How to Make Playdough

Playdough is very easy to make and you probably already have all of the ingredients at home. Kids of all ages will have fun playing with it.  The only difference between older and younger kids is the quality of their final creation. Younger kids will just mix the dough together and make some unrecognizable shapes whereas older kids will often create masterpieces that they will want to keep.

Preserving the Final Creations

1. Leave the finished creations to air dry or bake them in a slow oven for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
2. Paint with lacquer to protect the artwork and prevent moisture from destroying it.
3. If you want the work of art to be functional you can attach a magnet or pin to the back to create a brooch or a fridge magnet.

Recipe #1: Salt Dough

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of salt
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup of water
• Food coloring

Method:

1. Heat the water in a pot (don’t boil it just heat it)
2. Add the food coloring to the warm water.
3. Add the salt to the colored water.
4. Wait a few minutes until the salt dissolves.
5. Add the flour and knead until the dough is formed. If the dough is too sticky then add more flour. I personally use my electric mixer to mix the dough but you can knead it if you prefer.

Store leftover dough in airtight containers.

Recipe #2: Playdough

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons cream of tarter
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 1 cup of salt
• 2 cups of boiling water
• Food coloring

Method:

1. Heat the water in a pot.
2. Add the salt to the boiling water and mix until the salt dissolves.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients (besides the food coloring and glitter).
4. Mix or knead to a smooth dough.
5. Divide the dough up according to the number of colors that you would like to make.
6. Add food color and glitter to each piece of dough.

Store leftover dough in airtight containers.

Recipe #3 Glitter Dough

Follow instructions as above but add glitter to the dough once ready and colored.

Recipe #4 Plasticine

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup of salt
• 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 2 cups of water
• Food coloring

Method:

1. Mix all of the ingredients together in a pot.
2. Stir constantly over medium heat until the mixture thickens.
3. You know that the dough is ready when it begins to pull away from the bottom of the pot.
4. Remove the pot from heat and allow to cool.
5. Mix or knead to a smooth dough.
6. Divide the dough up according to the number of colors that you would like to make.
7. Add food color to each piece of dough and knead until the color is even.

Store leftover dough in airtight containers.

 Why make your own play dough?

You can purchase play dough in a variety of colors but some people prefer to make their own. Why?

1)    It is much cheaper to make it at home.

2)    You can ensure that it is non – toxic particularly when making the playdough for toddlers and young kids that tend to put the dough in their mouth.

3)    Store-bought play dough sometimes has a smell that kids do not like. When you make your own dough you can add any fragrance.