If you have kids, one of the classic activities to enjoy with them is making homemade playdough. A hallmark of childhood playtime, making things out of play dough is one activity that is sure to keep kids enthralled for hours, particularly if they have lots of different colors to work with. This is a wonderful recipe for homemade, non-toxic play dough that is easy to follow. Each batch produces a generous amount of play dough, roughly the size of a huge orange (or small grapefruit) if you round it into a ball.
This play dough also makes for a special, but inexpensive gift, especially if you make a few batches in different colors and wrap them up with cellophane or plastic wrap gathered at the top with craft string or ribbon. Give this a try for a play date activity, and divide the dough up to send home with visiting kids as a gift. It adds a nice touch if you include a few inexpensive cookie cutters tied to the top of the play dough pouches. No child can resist this tempting play dough!
What You'll Need per Batch:
*1 cup White, All-Purpose Flour (plus extra for kneading on a floured surface or to get the right consistency)
*1/2 cup Salt
*2 teaspoons Cream of Tartar (find the cheapest one you can, and get a few containers-it goes quickly if you make several different colors-1 oz. makes 4 batches of play dough)
*1 cup Water
*1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil (any oil will do)
*2 Kool-Aid packets of the same flavor per batch-small, unsweetened (I recommend Cherry, Orange, Lemonade, Lime/Lemon-Lime, Blue Raspberry and Grape for red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple play dough)
*1/2 teaspoon Wilton Food Coloring Paste in Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue and Purple (found at craft stores or party stores in the cake decorating aisle)
*Optional: Instead of Wilton Food Coloring Paste, 1-2 teaspoons of regular food coloring can be substituted (the colors won't be as vibrant and will be more pastel-like)
*Optional: Glitter or other creative add-ins found at craft stores (tiny metallic beads, sequins, etc.)
Instructions:
1) Mix dry ingredients (flour, salt, cream of tartar, Kool-Aid) together in a 2 quart saucepan. Add water, oil and food coloring (use a toothpick to add the food coloring paste a little at a time) and stir with a wooden spoon until blended smooth.
2) Put pan on medium heat and stir constantly for 3-4 minutes until the mixture forms a sticky ball. Remove from heat and turn out onto a floured surface. Knead dough, adding flour until dough isn't sticky and forms a nice, smooth ball.
3) Clean-up is easy with hot water and dish soap.
4) Keep dough in a Zip-Loc bag or covered plastic container. Add a little water and knead if dough gets dry over time or if you add too much flour when first kneading it out.
Extra Tips:
*For white play dough, find a clear Kool-Aid flavor of your choosing; the play dough will still have a nice scent!
*If giving the play dough as a gift, put in the center of a cellophane or plastic wrap square, gather like a pouch and tie a length of craft string or a ribbon into a bow around the neck of the pouch. Attach a cookie cutter with string or ribbon as an extra accent.
Where motherhood, tenacity and advocacy meet. Alphamomfia.com is a blog written by Julie Harris, who left a successful career in sales to advocate on behalf of one of her sons, who battles with anxiety. She muses about life, children and gardening and also provides a resource for parents wanting to advocate on behalf of their own children. Funny, insightful and irreverent, Alphamomfia is worth checking out! Alphamomfia represents a whole new breed of Alpha Mom.
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