Homemade Play Dough

Preparation:

3 cups flour
1.5 cups salt
6 tsp cream of tarter
3 tbsp oil
3 cups water

1) Dissolve salt in the water.

2) Pour all ingredients into a large pot.

3) Stir constantly over medium heat until a ball forms by pulling away from the sides.

4) Knead the dough mixture until the texture matches playdough (1-2 minutes).

Store in plastic container. Should last for at least 3 months.

Optional: dye play dough with liquid food coloring. Knead the color in until it is mixed evenly.

Note: This recipe is made from edible ingredients and not toxic in small amounts for children. However, a dog got sick after eating a batch of playdough. It is not intended as a food item. Please be sure to put it away after your children have finished playing.

Activity:

-use in highchair, at a table, or on the floor on a cookie pan

Toddlers- 1) allow them to squish it, poke it, etc. 2) make some balls of the play dough and sort them by color 3) use cookie cutters to cut out fun shapes 4) roll into cylinders and give your child a butter knife to practice cutting skills

Preschoolers- 1) do any of the toddler recommended activities 2) use play dough to make letters by rolling it into long cylinders and shaping it 2) make simple animals or people out of the play dough for fun. This can coincide with any theme you are working on this week (dinosaurs, bears, cats, etc.)

Skills Practiced:

-fine motor skills

-hand strength (when kneading or rolling)

-color recognition

-measuring/math

Pictures: