WHY MAKE YOUR PLAYDOUGH AT HOME
Playdough play is just fun! Homemade playdough is a great way to keep babies safe and busy by allowing them to express themselves creatively. It’s also a great way to bond with your little one and develop their motor skills. Children of all ages love to enjoy playing with play dough by squishing, squashing, and molding the dough, and it can provide hours of entertainment.
Making your playdough at home is more cost-effective than buying store-bought playdough. It is easy to make and requires minimal ingredients. I will share some recipes for playdough that use simple, everyday ingredients and can be made in a matter of minutes. Above all, homemade playdough does not contain harmful chemicals or additives, making it a safe and non-toxic option for young children.
Homemade playdough can be customized to suit your child’s preferences. You can add different scents and colors to the dough, mix in glitter or hide small objects to make it more exciting and engaging for your child.
There is a lot of information in this post; feel free to skip ahead to the sections that interest you the most.
MY BEST-EVER PLAYDOUGH RECIPE
There are many recipes for homemade playdough, and the best one for you may depend on your preferences and what you have available in your kitchen. Different ingredients produce different results in terms of texture, softness, and smoothness.
When looking for the best homemade playdough recipe, deciding which one to use is tricky. After searching and trying numerous recipes for homemade playdough, this recipe stands out as one of the best.
Here’s how to make your own best-ever homemade playdough for your little ones.
INGREDIENTS
- Flour – 2 Cups
- Salt – ½ Cup
- Cream of tartar – 2 tbsps.
- Oil – 2 tbsps. (you can use any oil, coconut, vegetable, or olive)
- Boiling Water – 1 ½ Cup
- Food Coloring – (Optional) I prefer gel food coloring for the brighter color results.
- Extracts or essential oils for added scents – (Optional)
DIRECTIONS – HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN PLAYDOUGH
In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients: flour, salt, and cream of tartar.
In a separate bowl or pot, heat the boiling water. Once boiling, remove from heat.
Add the oil to the boiling water.
Slowly pour the boiling water mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir continuously until the mixture forms a dough. The dough would be HOT, so be VERY careful while mixing it.
Knead the dough with your hands until it becomes smooth.
To make several different colors of play dough, divide the dough into equal parts.
Add gel food dye to the divided playdough as desired and knead the dough until the color is thoroughly blended.
This will be VERY messy; you can use gloves and put something on the counter to avoid stains.
Optional – Add extracts or essential oils to give the playdough a pleasant smell.
NOTE: Be cautious when handling the hot water and the finished playdough. Use gloves and lay down a protective surface to avoid attaining your hands or countertop. Additionally, the play dough can be harmful due to its high salt content.
WHICH COLORS TO ADD TO THE PLAYDOUGH
Homemade playdough can be made in a variety of colors. It is best to use food-safe dyes, such as food coloring or natural ingredients like ground spices, fruit or vegetable juices, or herbs.
Some options include
- Gel food coloring: Gel colors are my first choice as it is more concentrated than liquid food coloring, so you will need to use less of it to achieve the desired color. Gel food coloring is less likely to bleed or fade than liquid food coloring.
- Liquid food coloring: Liquid colors are easy to mix and a good choice for coloring play dough. Just be aware that some food colorings may bleed or fade over time, so the final color of your play dough may be different from what you intended.
- Natural food coloring: There are several options for natural colors If you want to avoid using artificial food coloring. These can be made from fruits, vegetables, and other natural sources, although they may be more limited in scope than artificial food colorings.
It’s important to note that all food colorings, natural or artificial, may stain clothing or other surfaces, so be sure to use them carefully and protect your work area.
Have fun and be creative!
WHY ADD CREAM OF TARTAR TO THE HOMEMADE PLAYDOUGH
Cream of tartar is not necessary, and you can make the playdough without it. Adding it will affect the texture and durability of the homemade playdough, helping to extend the shelf life by preserving it. Moreover, it will make the dough soft and slightly stretchy.
WHAT CAN I ADD INSTEAD OF CREAM OF TARTAR?
If you don’t have the cream of tartar at home, you can use a few different substitutes in your homemade playdough. Each of these substitutes may alter the texture and consistency of the playdough slightly, so you may need to adjust the recipe as needed.
Here are a few options:
Baking powder: It can help to make the playdough slightly softer. Use ½ teaspoon baking powder for every 1 cup of flour in your playdough recipe.
Lemon juice or vinegar: Both of these ingredients can help to add a slightly similar effect to the cream of tartar. For every 1 cup of flour, use about 1 teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar in your playdough recipe.
Cornstarch: This can help to make the playdough smooth and silky. Use 1 tablespoon cornstarch for every 1 cup of flour in your playdough recipe.
HOW TO STORE PLAYDOUGH?
To store playdough, keep it in an airtight container or a plastic zipper bag, so it lasts as long as possible.
If you have a large batch of play dough, you can divide it into smaller portions and store each in a separate container or a bag.
Additionally, you can store the playdough in the refrigerator for up to a month or in the freezer. When ready to use it, allow it to thaw at room temperature for a few hours before playing with it.
HOW DO YOU FIX YOUR STICKY HOMEMADE PLAYDOUGH?
If your playdough is too sticky while mixing, add more flour, a little at a time (approx. 1 tbsp.), until it reaches the desired consistency. As the playdough sits and cools, it will absorb any remaining water. If unsure, let it rest for a few minutes before adding more flour.
CAN I ADD DIFFERENT SCENTS TO MY PLAYDOUGH?
Yes, adding scents to your playdough is a great way to make it even more fun and creative.
To give your playdough a pleasant aroma, you can add essential oils or extracts, such as vanilla, peppermint, lemon, or lavender.
You can also get creative by mixing dried herbs and spices to give them natural scents. Some good options include cinnamon, nutmeg, and coffee. Just be sure to crush the herbs or spices finely before adding them to the play dough.
HOW TO MAKE HARD PLAYDOUGH SOFT AGAIN
Suppose your playdough dried out; NO PROBLEM. Reviving dried-out playdough is easy! I like to soak a paper towel in water, wrap it around the playdough ball, and store it in an airtight container.
This should do the trick after a few hours or overnight. If the play dough is especially dry, running it under water and kneading in the liquid works, but it can be a bit of a mess at first!
PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE WHILE PLAYING WITH THE PLAYDOUGH
Playing with playdough can be a fun and creative activity for children and adults. However, it is essential to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you.
It is important to supervise young children when playing with the play dough as small pieces can be a choking hazard, or the babies may try to put the playdough in their ears or noses.
Additionally, it is advisable to keep playdough away from carpeted areas as it may leave a stain on the carpet.
Wash hands before and after playing with the play dough to prevent the spread of any germs or bacteria.
By following these precautions, you can help to ensure that playing with playdough is a safe and enjoyable activity for everyone.
PLAYDOUGH FUN ACTIVITIES FOR BABIES
Playing with homemade playdough can be a fun, safe, and engaging activity for babies. Here are some tips for playing with playdough with babies:
- Start with a small amount of playdough. Work with about the size of a golf ball. It will help keep your baby from feeling overwhelmed.
- Roll the playdough into a long snake, which will help your baby practice fine motor skills.
- Use cookie cutters and other tools to help shape the playdough. This way, your baby learns to recognize shapes and colors.
- Talk to your baby as you play; it will help your baby learn language skills and build your bond.
- Playdough can also be used to create sensory boxes. Fill a container with small amounts of playdough and add items like dried pasta, buttons, and cotton balls. The babies will love to explore different textures.
Have fun playing with playdough with your baby!
PLAYDOUGH FOR EDUCATIONAL AND SENSORY PLAY
Playdough can be an excellent tool for educational and sensory play. It can help children develop fine motor skills, explore colors and textures, and stimulate their imaginations.
It can help in many ways:
Sensory Play: Playdough has a unique texture that can be soothing and enjoyable for some children. Exploring playdough with their hands can provide a sensory experience that can be calming and relaxing for them.
Fine Motor Skills: Rolling, pinching, and squeezing playdough can help to strengthen the muscles in the hands and fingers, which is essential for developing fine motor skills.
Creative and Imagination: Playdough encourages children to use their creativity and imagination without limitations. They can create their own shapes, structures, and figures and use playdough to tell stories.
Cognitive development: Playdough play can also help children develop their problem-solving skills and improve their concentration.
Educational Activities: Playdough can also be used in various educational activities. For example, children can use play dough to create 3D models of shapes and objects or to practice counting and math skills.
They can also do activities using the fun learning printable for the play dough.
Emotional and social development: It can also be an excellent way for children to express their emotions and communicate with others. They can use playdough to act out their feelings or create symbols representing their emotions.
Overall, homemade playdough is an excellent activity for children of all ages. It is a safe, non-toxic, and cost-effective way for children to develop their senses, creativity, emotional and social skills, language skills, problem-solving skills, and concentration. It is also easy to make and customize and provides endless hours of fun.
DIFFERENT RECIPES FOR HOMEMADE PLAYDOUGH
There are various recipes online you can find. I have tried and tested some of them with a bit of tweaking.
Here you go some authentic homemade playdough recipes you can check:
- Best ever play dough (my favorite one)
- No-Cook Oats Playdough
- 3-Ingredients Homemade Salt Dough for Craft
- Corn Flour Homemade Playdough
- Easy Playdough With Kool-Aid
