Make Your Own: Playdough

Don't want to buy playdough? Afraid that your child will eat it? Want another activity you can do together? Make your own! It is easier than you might think and you probably already have all of the ingredients in your pantry! It is completely safe and non-toxic. I'm sure it will taste pretty gross, but it is non-toxic!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups flour


• 3 cups water


• 1 cup salt


• 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil


• 2 Tablespoon cream of tartar


• food coloring or unsweetened powdered drink mix


• glitter (optional - omit if you think it may get eaten)

Make the Dough:

Mix all of the ingredients together in a metal bowl or saucepan and stir over low heat. As the dough begins to thicken, it will pull away from the sides and clump in the center. When it is no longer sticky, remove the pan from heat and allow the dough to cool enough to handle.

Turn the dough out onto a clean counter or silicone pastry mat, and knead until it becomes smooth. Divide the dough into balls for coloring. Poke a hole in the center of the ball, and drop some food coloring and glitter in. Fold the dough over, working the color and glitter through the ball of dough (you might want to wear plastic gloves for this part). Start with a small amount of color and add more until you get the shade you want.

Tips:

• Concentrated paste dyes used in cake decorating will give you nice deep, vibrant colors. I used Wilton dyes for the dough shown.


• Unsweetened powdered drink mix will make your dough scented as well! you may need to go heavy on the mix to get rich color.

Playdough Day

• Last summer, as a treat, Fridays were Playdough days. It was such a big hit, that it has mad a return this summer. At the end of a busy week, it is a nice no-brainer for the staff here at DDC.
  
  I have a bin loaded up with:
  containers of playdough
• tools
• 2 plastic tablecloths

You can get big bags of small containers in the party sections of the discount stores. I've had great success finding deals on them at the dollar store as well.

"Tools" can include plastic utensils, cookie cutters, small plastic rolling pins... just about anything. Plastics are good because they are non-porous (easy to clean) and tough to break.

Tablecloths also came from the dollar store. one goes on the table - one under it. Better still, set them up at a table outside!

You can guide this activity as much - or as little - as you like. We prefer to let them explore and create. Aside from having fun, they are strengthening their hands and developing fine motor control, imagination and creativity. It also provides them with visual and tactile stimulation. If you prefer to guide them a bit mroe, use the dough to teach colors, shapes, letters, numbers and even words! blend colors together and explore the color wheel!