Playdough Fun

[Sixty Second Parent]

Playdough is a lot of fun for your child. This article includes a recipe for playdough and ideas on what you can do with it.

A perk of being an early childhood teacher for so long was never having to grow out of playdough. Now I have my own child, so playdough is here to stay (for awhile anyway). There is something very therapeutic about playing with playdough. I know playdough drives some parents crazy - no matter how hard you try you always seem to get it on the bottom of your shoes and track it around the house, but I feel the benefits far outweigh the mess.

The benefits of playdough
Helps to strengthen little fingers, hands and wrists

• It's fun.
• It is one of the best open ended  toys I know - playdough can be anything - food, animals, bowls, shapes etc
• It helps to foster your child's imagination.
• It helps children develop self esteem -there is no right or wrong and the child has the opportunity to gain mastery over their environment.
• It is a great release for tension or angry feelings - squeezing, punching, poking are all acceptable if done to playdough.

Things to use with playdough

•     Popsicle sticks
•     Cupcake papers
•     Small wooden or plastic animals
•     Old muffin tins or baking trays
•     Rolling pin
•     Birthday candles
•     Trays
•     Plastic figurines
•     Cookie cutters
•     Plastic containers
•     Old garlic crushers
•     Leaves and twigs
•     Plastic knives, forks and spoons
•     Plastic tea set
•     Old potato masher
•     Colored matchsticks

Homemade playdough recipe
This is my all time favorite playdough recipe - it does use boiling water so I usually make this dough without my daughter's help.

•     3 cups boiling water
•     3 cups flour
•     1 1/2 cups salt
•     4  Tablespoons vegetable oil
•     4 Tablespoons cream of tartar
•     food coloring optional -(I've even colored my daughters playdough with a little beet juice)

Directions:

Mix all ingredients except for the flour in a large bowl. Once well mixed, add flour. Stir continuously until the dough mix leaves the sides of the bowl. When well blended, remove from bowl and knead on floured board. Careful! The dough will be HOT - especially in the center. Until it cools, this is a job for an adult.  If the dough is too sticky, add more flour (I nearly always do).  At first it will seem undercooked, but as you knead and sprinkle with flour, you will find you have made a nice, soft playdough. Store in an airtight container. I never refrigerate my dough as putting it in the fridge makes it sweat and it goes sticky.
Things to add to dough

•     Glitter
•     Rice for texture
•     Vanilla or a few drops of essential oil for scent

This dough is edible, but I would discourage children from eating playdough (of course it's not edible with the added glitter or essential oils).

Have fun!
I would love to hear your ideas and to learn about other playdough recipes. What do you add to playdough?