I loved playing with playdough as a child and my grandkids love playing with it too. I want to share with you a couple of my favorite recipes.

Cooked Playdough

This one is my favorite. The consistency is similar to store bought but I think it’s even better. I love playing with it when it’s still warm. One of the benefits of teaching preschool is still being able to play with playdough.

Ingredients

1 cup flour
½ cup salt
1 tablespoon oil
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 cup water
food coloring or *Kool-Aid

Instructions

Stir and cook for approximately 3 minutes; until it pulls away from the sides of the pan. Take off the heat and knead by hand until it looks and feels like playdough. Keeps for approximately 2 months (with home use).

*Kool-Aid is less messy than food coloring but I wouldn’t use it to color the play dough unless the children are a little older because the wonderful smell is going to make them want to eat it.

Uncooked Playdough

If your child understands measurements then they should be able to make this recipe by themselves. This playdough is a little grainy but still fun to play with.

Ingredients

1 ¼ cups flour
¼ cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 cup boiling water
1 ½ tablespoon oil
food coloring or *Kool-Aid

Instructions

Mix all ingredients together and knead until smooth.

*Kool-Aid is less messy than food coloring but I wouldn’t use it to color the play dough unless the children are a little older because the wonderful smell is going to make them want to eat it.

Extras

You can pick up some cute, inexpensive cookies cutters for added creativity. The kids also enjoy plastic knives to cut the playdough. If they are too young for even a plastic knife, I would use wooden popsicle sticks with my preschool students.

Enjoy your new batches of playdough. I would love for you to share pictures of your creations; either here or on the Love to Laugh and Learn Facebook page.