Who doesn’t love play dough?

It’s the epitome of learning through play! It feels wonderful in your hands; it awakens your creativity, and allows everyone in the family to experience it at their own level.

Is there a better medium for whole-family Core Phase fun?

Here’s my favorite play dough recipe:

PLAY DOUGH*

Ingredients

  • 1 c. flour
  • 2 t. cream of tartar
  • 1 T. oil
  • 7/8 c. water with a few drops of food coloring
  • ½ c. salt

Directions

  • Combine all ingredients and stir over medium heat until mixture forms ball and leaves sides of pan. Note: I find that a cast iron pan works really well for this, but whatever you have will work!
  • Pour onto waxed paper and knead until smooth.
  • Keep in Ziploc bag.

This Play Dough takes just minutes to make, has a super consistency and kids love working with it.

You can even add essential oils – like, “Peppermint” for green, “Orange” for orange, “Cinnamon” for red, etc. It adds to the sensory joy!

*Thanks to my friend Lis Barker who used to run the Preschool at Southern Utah University for this great recipe!

 

 

PLASTIC PLAY DOUGH**

This dough will dry to a hard, plastic-like consistency.  You can make beads, animals, paperweights, or any other treasure that you want to last.

Ingredients

  • ¼ c white glue
  • ¼ c water
  • 10 drops food coloring of your choice
  • ¼ c flour
  • 1 c cornstarch

Directions

  1. Cover the work area with waxed paper or a plastic tablecloth.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together the glue, water, and food coloring.
  3. Mix the flour and cornstarch together in a small bowl. Then add to the wet mixture and mix until a stiff dough forms. (If you live in a humid climate, you may need to use less cornstarch.)
  4. Remove the dough from the bowl and knead on a lightly floured surface for 1 minute.
  5. Mold the dough into shapes. If the dough becomes too dry, wet your hands. When you are finished with your creation, let it finish air-drying until thoroughly dry and hard. Drying time varies according to the size and thickness of the object.

**Plastic Play Dough recipe by Sherry Timberman, from the 1/06 Friend magazine

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