Play Dough Recipe

Play dough is not hard to make yourself, honestly!

Home made play dough has many advantages:

• Knowing what exactly is in it.
• You can make up large batches of any colour you like so there is more to go around the kids!
• Add a little essential oil like lemon or lavender to make it a multi sensory experience for your children.
• For older children that don't mouth things any more then a little glitter also adds to the fun!
• It is great fun to make with your children.
• It is much cheaper than buying ready made from a shop!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of plain flour
• 1 Cup of fine ground salt
• 4 tbs cream of tartar
• 2 tbs vegetable oil (not olive)
• food colouring
• 2 cups of water
• FUN!

Method:

• Mix the dry ingredients in a saucepan.
• Add the oil.
• Put food colouring in a cup of water and add to mixture a little at a time while stiring. The more colour you add, the less water you will need, hence adding it to the water. This also helps distribute the colour more evenly.
• Add second cup of water.
• Stir over a medium heat for 3-5 mins. The mixture congeals when ready.
• Leave to cool then turn out onto a board or table and knead the dough until all the colour is mixed and it is smooth.
• Get the kids to add the glitter if so desired.
• Store in an airtight container (or it will go sticky from the humidity)

Hints:

You may need more or less water depending on the type of flour. Make sure you stir it in a bit at a time.

If the mixture is too sticky after cooking - knead in a little more flour.

If your child is gluten intolerant try using a gluten free flour. Just remember it will have differing properties and may require more water than wheat flour or a gluten alternative added.