The Simplicity of Playdough
Besides a freshly baked loaf of bread, I can't think of a better use of a few cups of flour besides a batch of velvety soft playdough! The simple toys are the best, and playdough has to rank up at the top of simple toys. A handful of playdough, a plastic knife, and a rolling pin can be the inspiration for hours of creative play!
The Basic Playdough Recipe
and how to make it
If you've never made homemade playdough before, you'll be surprised at how easy it really is!The only ingredient you might not have on hand is the cream of tartar. If you omit it, the dough will not be as soft and creamy, but it will still work.
Mix these ingredients together in pot. Cook them over medium heat, stirring constantly until it comes away from the pan and forms a blob.
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 1 cup water
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil
- 2 Tbsp cream of tartar
Making the Playdough
As you continue to cook and stir, eventually the mixture will start to stick together and form a big blob in the pan. When that happens, it's done. Take the playdough out of the pan and let it cool on a counter until you can handle it.
After it has cooled for a few minutes, add food coloring to hunks of your playdough.For glitzy playdough, you can add glitter -- the coarser glitter seems to work better than the fine kind.
Knead and add more coloring until you get a color you are satisfied with. Creating the colors is a big part of the fun of making homemade playdough!
Store the playdough in plastic bags or airtight plastic containers to preserve its softness for weeks.
Playdough is Serious Play
Playdough offers more than just play. There is serious learning going on when a tub of playdough it opened!
Playdough fun offers these benefits:
- creative play and imagination
- textile stimulation
- small motor coordination
- 3D visualization
- color blending
Futhermore, squeezing playdough can be soothing during a time of stress. Very active children sometimes benefit by holding a ball of playdough as they have their lessons. Having something to softly manipulate helps them to focus mentally on their schoolwork.
The History of Play Doh
If you ever wondered how Play-Doh brand playdough came to be a staple of childhood fun, read this fascinating series of articles!
- Parent's Choice Play-Doh
- Fascinating account of the history of play doh.
The Joy of Playdough
Now that you've mixed up some playdough, try printing out these fun playdough mats! They are faces with hair but no other features. You add the eyes, nose, and mouth using your fresh playdough! Very fun creative play.
Play Doh and Tools for Molding It
Although the experience of making playdough with a child is really fun, sometimes you want the convenience of store bought craft dough.
We all know the Play-Doh brand as a safe, colorful option. And best of all are the Play-Doh tools, accessories, and play sets.
I still remember my childhood Play-Doh Barber Shop with the people whose playdough hair "grew" out of the holes on their heads.
Play-doh Case of Colors
Amazon Price: $10.31 (as of 07/12/2009) 
Play-Doh 24 Pack of Colors
Amazon Price: $15.28 (as of 07/12/2009)
Play-Doh Creativity Center
Amazon Price: $38.99 (as of 07/12/2009)
Play-Doh Magic Swirl Ice Cream Shoppe
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 07/12/2009)
Play-Doh Octopus Playset
Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 07/12/2009)
Playdough on eBay
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More Play-Doh Supplies for Creative Fun
Play-Doh Fuzzy Pumper Crazy Cuts Playset
This looks like today's version of my childhood Play-Doh Barber Shop.
Amazon Price: $42.95 (as of 07/12/2009)
Play-Doh Meal Makin Kitchen
Amazon Price: $32.99 (as of 07/12/2009)
Play-Doh EZ 2 Do Zoo
Amazon Price: $59.99 (as of 07/12/2009)
Play-Doh PD FUNFACTRY PLAY-DOH FUN FACTORY
Amazon Price: $23.76 (as of 07/12/2009)
Play-Doh: Fun Factory Deluxe Set
Amazon Price: (as of 07/12/2009)
Playdough Video
Edible Playdough Recipes
Instead of constantly telling your toddler to not put the playdough in his mouth, make some edible playdough and stop worrying. These playdoughs can be nibbled as you create!
Peanut Butter Playdough
Mix these ingredients in a large bowl. No need to cook.
3 1/2 cups peanut butter
4 cups powdered sugar
4 cups powdered milk
3 1/2 cups corn syrup
Kool-aid Playdough
Mix these ingredients in a large bowl. No need to cook.
1/2 cup salt
2-1/2 cups flour
2 packages Kool-Aid (same color)
3 tablespoons oil
2 cups boiling water
Salt Dough Crafts
Salt dough is sort of playdough for grown-ups. As you can see from the Flickr images below, it can be used for many crafts from jewelry to ornaments.
Salt Dough
Salt dough can be made into the traditional Christmas ornaments, of course, but there are many more ideas for this versitile medium: magnets, napkin rings, and pencil holders! Explore these links for ideas.
- Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments
- Recipe and directions.
- How to Make a Salt Dough Nativity
- This is an incredible tutorial for how to make a salt dough nativity scene.
- Family Corner Magazine's Salt Dough Ideas
- Crafts using salt dough for several holidays and just for fun!
- Salt Dough Apple Wreath and Name Card Holder
- This page has directions for a salt dough apple wreath and matching name card holders.
Salt Dough Maps
Salt dough can be used to make maps. This is a great geography project for school! Find complete directions at Salt Dough Maps.These pictures show my daughter's map of Alabama.
Salt Dough Books
Dough Crafts
Amazon Price: (as of 07/12/2009)
Salt Dough (Home Craft)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/12/2009)
Salt Dough
Amazon Price: (as of 07/12/2009)
Salt Dough Fun (I Made It Myself)
Amazon Price: $23.00 (as of 07/12/2009)
Fun Dough: Over 100 Salt Dough Projects for All the Family
Amazon Price: (as of 07/12/2009)
Your thoughts are welcome. Please post a comment.
Craftyville wrote...
What a great idea, peanut butter playdough, yummy and fun.
Posted June 19, 2009
nextchapterlearning wrote...
I love playdoh!!
Jenn
www.squidoo.com/how-to-make-hair-bows
Posted January 26, 2009
MarketPipeline wrote...
Playdough is a nice way for kids to be creative. It cleans up pretty easily too as long as it does not get ground into the carpet.
Posted January 21, 2009
KarateKatGraphics wrote...
Great lens, 5***** When my kiddos were younger, we made playdough almost every week, put glitter in sometimes. They loved the playdough barbershop, and there's an insect-making toy for p-dough you might want to add, if it's still on the market. Nice work!
Posted January 17, 2009
adez7 wrote...
Playdough is a long time favorite of mine as well! This is a great lens and blessed as well. :)
Posted January 16, 2009
Evelyn_Saenz wrote...
We love to add flavorings to our playdough. We add cinnamon in the fall, peppermint in the winter, rose scented oil in the spring and lemon in the summer.
I was thinking about doing a playdough lens but I see that you have made a wonderful one.
Posted January 14, 2009
OhMe wrote...
I love play dough and salt dough and have enjoyed them with my son and grandson. I remember when I was young that we had modeling clay to play with on rainy days. Great lens.
Posted January 06, 2009
CASHMONEYSILK wrote...
EDIBLE PLAYDOUGH!? WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE? This really brings me back, I miss playdough Imma go make some right now!! 10 stars (if i could)
Posted December 30, 2008
StevenCousley wrote...
Thanks for this lens, my grandson is approaching the age of playdoh (when he'll play more and eat less of it) and my daughter has been talking about making some. Now I can give her directions to this lens. :)
Posted November 03, 2008
by Jimmie
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