Playdough has a magical way of bringing smiles to children’s faces. This soft, colourful substance can be squished, rolled, sculpted, and shaped into anything a young imagination can conjure up. Children love playdough not only because it’s fun but also because it’s a fantastic way to express creativity and improve fine motor skills. However, the store-bought one might be toxic and dry out soon. To solve this problem, we are giving you the simplest recipe to make play dough. The safest method to make play dough at home involves using just a few kitchen ingredients. However, it involves cooking; thus, this fun DIY activity is not suitable for children alone but can be done with complete adult supervision.
How To Make Playdough
The playdough made by this method is absolutely wonderful! Its texture is just perfect not too sticky, not too dry, making it a breeze to mould into any shape our imagination can invoke. This child friendly DIY craft allows you to add the colours you want, is non-toxic and lasts long. It’s a delight to touch and even more fun to play with. This homemade playdough beats store-bought any day, giving a sense of pride with every squish and squeeze. Truly an unbeatable blend of homemade goodness!
Making Your Playdough (Easiest Method)
Disclaimer: Please be advised that the method detailed for making the dough involves cooking processes that may not be suitable for children to undertake alone. We highly recommend engaging your children in this activity under close adult supervision to ensure their safety and well-being.
Ingredients for Homemade Playdough:
- Flour: 2 cups
- Warm Water: 2 cups
- Salt: 1 cup
- Vegetable Oil: 2 Tablespoons
- Cream of Tartar: 1 Tablespoon (optional, for improved elasticity)
- Food Coloring: Liquid, powder, or unsweetened Kool-Aid or similar drink mix for colour
- Scented Oils: (optional) for fragrance
Tools:
- Cooking Stove: To heat and mix the ingredients.
- Pan: For cooking the playdough mixture on the stove.
- Spatula or Wooden Spoon: For stirring the mixture as it cooks.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: To measure out the ingredients accurately.
- Counter or Silicone Mat: A surface to knead the dough on once it’s cooked.
- Container: An air-tight container for storing the playdough after it’s made.
Step-by-step Recipe
Mix Ingredients:
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- In a large pot, mix together the flour, warm water, salt, vegetable oil, and cream of tartar (if using). Stir to combine.
Heat:
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- Place the pot over low heat on the stove. Stir the mixture continuously. It will start to thicken and look like mashed potatoes.
- Once the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the pot and clumps in the centre, remove the pot from the heat. (Note: If the dough feels sticky, it’s not done yet. Continue cooking and stirring until it dries out and reaches a play dough consistency.)
Cool and Knead:
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- Turn the dough out onto a clean counter or silicone mat. Let it cool down a bit so it’s safe to handle.
- Knead the dough vigorously until it becomes silky-smooth.
Colouring the Dough:
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- Divide the dough into balls, depending on how many colours you’d like to make.
- Press a divot into the centre of each ball and add a few drops of food colouring, Kool-Aid, or powdered drink mix. (Safety tip: To avoid staining your hands, you can wear gloves, use plastic wrap, or knead the dough inside a ziplock bag at this stage.)
- Knead the dough until the colour is evenly distributed. Add more colouring if needed to achieve your desired shade.
Play and Store:
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- The playdough is now ready for play! It’s non-toxic and edible, though very salty.
- After playing, store the playdough in an air-tight container to keep it soft. You can knead in a bit of water if it starts to dry out.
- If the dough becomes too soggy, you can briefly reheat it to remove excess moisture.
Feel free to customize your playdough by adding different food colouring or scented oils for a personalized touch. Enjoy your homemade playdough crafting!
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