How To Make Play Dough

It helps them with skill building and hand eye coordination. Kids that play with play dough and other textured toys are less likely to have sensory-texture issues.

There are 2 different types of play dough. The first type is cooked play dough. The second is uncooked play dough.  You can choose from a variety of colors. Mixing and matching colors is always fun to do. Edible play dough is always an option. You can throw different spices and sugars that are safe for your child to eat. The following play dough recipe is non toxic and non edible.

To get play dough just like in the store, you will only need a few small items. The whole ingredient list can be purchased for less than $10-$15. You will need flour, water, oil, powdered alum, salt, vanilla and your choice of food coloring.

Once you have the correct items gathered take a measuring cup and measure out the following: 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of water, 1 tablespoon of oil, 1 tablespoon of powdered alum, ½ cup of salt, 2 tablespoons of vanilla, and food coloring.  Mix all ingredients together except for the vanilla and food coloring. Cook in a pan over medium heat. Make sure to stir it constantly so that way it doesn’t burn. Once it reaches the consistency of mashed potatoes, remove it from the stove. Add the vanilla and food coloring. Work into ball shaped form. Knead the play dough to make sure all food coloring is mixed in correctly. Let cool but not enough to wear it dries out. If it is cool to the touch than place in containers for storage until play time.  To do different colors, repeat the process and use different food coloring.

There are so many things you can do with play dough. Take cookie cutters and make shapes, take blocks and other toys and press them into the play dough to make shapes and create a bumpy texture.

With so many different colors to choose from, even adults can have fun with play dough. Make sure to keep play dough covered so it doesn’t dry out. Accidents do happen though, so if you do happen to find it laying on the table sprinkle some water over it and squish it together. This may help soften it up a bit. Bake some fun shapes and colors up and join in on the fun.