How to make Homemade Play dough

If you need a fun activity to keep your bored kids busy, homemade play dough is a great idea! It is a very inexpensive toy that provides hours of fun. It can also be an opportunity to teach your child a few basic science concepts. Sometimes you have to get creative to keep your young ones entertained!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 cup of salt
• 2 cups of flour
• 2 tablespoons of oil
• 2 cups of water
• 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar
• food coloring (assorted colors)

1. 
    

   Allow your child to help by letting them pour the ingredients (all except the food coloring) into a separate bowl and mix them together with a spoon or even with their hands.

2. Now the adult should place the ingredients in a medium sized pan on the stove. With the heat on low to medium, stir the mixture for about 5 or 6 minutes until a ball begins to form.

3. 
    

   Remove the mixture from the pan and let it cool. You can let it cool directly on the counter top, but if want to stay tidy, place it on some aluminum foil or wax paper.

4. At this point you want to knead the mixture thoroughly. Add food coloring to the mixture and continue to knead. If you would like different colors, divide it into pieces and add various colors to each piece. Roll into balls and save play dough in sealed containers.

5. 
    

   Take a few minutes to provoke thought in your child by asking your child a few questions about the way the mixture changed. Since this activity involves proportions, measurements, and changes in color and consistency, you will be surprised by what they learned! When you are done it should ALMOST look like the real thing!

Tips & Warnings

• When adding color get creative and mix colors.
• You can double the ingredients to make a bigger batch.
• You can make this play dough without ever having to use a stove, but it will involve more kneading or a hand mixer. And the play dough will only last a few days.
• Although it is not harmful keep out of reach when not in play so a small child won't try to eat it.
• If you don't save the play dough in sealed containers it will get hard and dry out.

[nikki1]

on 7/11/2009 wow

[ahickpoet]

on 1/11/2009 My mom used to make this for us all the time! (It also tastes pretty good when you're a kid, by the way.)

[AllFYB]

on 12/31/2008 What a Great Step by Step. I will put this in my favorites for when my niece visits.

[cwarren8135]

on 12/8/2008 I loved the article. I gave it five stars.

[eemie]

on 11/30/2008 I like this recipe! Thanks, will definitely try it out with my little girl. Its interesting how you could also make it educational. Great tip!