How to Dye Salt for Sensory Play and Art Activities

Let’s talk about “sand” for writing trays. Colored sand is expensive, I think so anyway. So, I tried to dye salt instead! (Yes, I said salt!)  Friends, it is so easy and so vibrant in a writing tray. Once you see how easy it is (and cheap), you will be dying salt for all the things like sensory bottles, sensory tables, writing trays, and art activities. 

The wooden writing tray is from this lacing set, but you can also use kid-divided plates, pie pans, plastic food containers, or any tray with a tall side as a writing tray like these trays. You can grab the Letter Cards HERE.

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How to Dye Salt for Sensory

JUST FOLLOW THESE STEPS, AND YOU WILL HAVE GORGEOUS, DYE SALT IN NO TIME. IT IS SO SIMPLE!

Step 1: Place salt in a thick baggie.  If you are making small batches, use sandwich-size bags.  If you are making a big, single-color batch, use a gallon baggie. 

Step 2: Add liquid watercolor and close the baggie. Just a few squirts will do.

Step 3: Shake, shake, and shake! This is the fun part that students can help with! If the color isn’t bright enough for you, just add a few more drops of liquid watercolor. Conversely, if you have too much color, just add more salt.

Step 4: Grab a tray and cover it with wax paper or foil. Spread the dye salt on the tray and let it dry.

***Let the dye salt air dry for 24-48 hours before you place it in an airtight container. This ensures that all the moisture is out of the salt.***

That’s it! Now you have gorgeous, brightly colored dye salt for all your activities!

Salt is perfect for adding to the base of a writing tray to make practicing writing letters FUN and hands-on. Add a paintbrush to the writing tray for students to use to write the letters in the salt. 

If you want to make the writing tray extra fancy, add sprinkles or glitter. The sprinkles really make the writing tray a special treat!  You can tie the writing tray to your learning theme easily. For example, add fall leaf sprinkles to a fall writing tray.

Make a salt sensory table! Sand is a ton of fun in the sensory table but can get boring after a while. Dye a large batch of salt for the sensory table! Add measuring cups, tubes, funnels, and treasures to the salt sensory table once the salt is dry.

If you want letter cards to add to the sensory table, I got you! Check out this pack of Seasons Letter Cards with tons of letter cards. These are perfect to add to any sensory table. It includes matching worksheets if you need those, too. You can also use them for letter centers. Grab the Seasons Letter Cards HERE.

See how to dye salt in a video.

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