Make Homemade Play-Dough

I am a mom to a five year old boy and one of his favorite things to play with (besides his toys) is play-dough. Play-dough is super fun for kids. They can make anything, literally. My son comes up with some pretty interesting ideas when it comes to play-dough, ha-ha. Buying it for my little one makes him so happy, but I absolutely dislike how quickly it dries out. I continue to have to buy more and more and it becomes a little crazy.

So, one day I decided I would do some research on how to make play-dough at home. I figured, you can make slime and other fun kid stuff at home, so why not play-dough? After a bunch of failed, not so great recipes I found online, I found one that works perfectly! This recipe is super easy to make, non-toxic, and lasts for a long time if stored properly. For this recipe you will need a large pot to cook the dough and a cutting board—or something else that can withstand the food coloring. I usually lay a piece of parchment paper on top of the cutting board with the sides taped down. I keep it sealed in a Ziplock bag and then put in a large container so I can fit multiple bags (different colors). This is perfect for teaching your child (ren) about safety in the kitchen. Have them measure ingredients, with help of course, and talk about the different uses for each ingredient. Another way to make it fun is to make up stories using the ingredients. My son loves pretending the flour is snow and the water is rain, the finished dough is a snowman. Kids, ha-ha. Obviously, be careful if you allow them to help out near the stove. I usually let mine sit on the counter or stand on a chair and remind him that he can get hurt if he doesn't follow directions. That is the beauty of this activity, you are teaching them safety, science, and math while bonding with them and making memories.

One more thing before we get started, I want to talk about two things I love to add to this recipe. First, essential oils. Essential oils are great because of their many uses and scents. They have oils for relaxation (lavender and peppermint are my favorite), oils for making you feel more positive and alert (wild orange and peppermint), and even oils to make you relax and sleep (bergamot and chamomile). I usually add two-to-four drops of essential oil to my dough, depending on the size. You can buy these oils in kits and individually from online and outside stores. Amazon has a very wide selection. Now that we talked about that, the second thing you can add is glitter. Glitter can make this play-dough recipe 10x more fun for your LO. If you are concerned about the mess, don't even worry about it. Add the glitter in a baggie, toss the prepared (already colored) dough into the bag, and shake. Place on a paper plate or napkin to dab off any excess. Like with everything you add to the dough, start with a small amount.

So, let's get started.

Here's what you'll need:

• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 1/4 cups salt
• 1 1/2 tbsps. cream of tarter
• 5 tbsps. vegetable oil
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• Food coloring in assorted colors

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients—except for food coloring—in a large pot and stir. The dough will look a bit lumpy, but will smooth out as it continues cooking.

2. Cook dough over low heat, stirring frequently. The water will start to evaporate into the dough and become sticky. Continue mixing the dough until the side and bottom of the pot, appear dry.

3. Pinch dough between fingers, if it is still sticky, continue cooking. If the dough is no longer sticky or gooey, then the dough is done.

4. Place dough on prepared cutting board (or whatever you've chosen to add food coloring on) and knead.

5. Knead dough until smooth and then divide into sections for each color. If you are using four colors, divide dough into four sections (or balls). Increase for more colors.

6. Lastly, flatten each section slightly and add desired amount of food coloring—start with a drop or two, and knead together. For darker and more vibrant color, work your way up until the desired color shade is reached.

There you have it! Keep stored in a Ziplock and/or tightly sealed container, if properly stored the play-dough will last for months. If you liked this recipe, let me know how it turned out for you and your little one. Have fun!!