Grab That Dough
Crafting fun with homemade playdough
In the age of endless screen time, there’s something refreshingly simple and delightful about homemade playdough. It not only sparks creativity in children but also provides a therapeutic, hands-on experience for grownups too. Making your own playdough at home allows you to customize it with various colours and scents, ensuring endless fun and engagement. Here’s how you can create and personalize your own batch of playdough, transforming ordinary playtime into a sensory adventure.
The basics
Homemade playdough is easy to make with ingredients commonly found in your kitchen. Here’s a basic recipe to get you started:
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1½ cups water
Food colouring (optional)
Essential oils or flavour extracts (optional for scent)
In a large pot, combine the flour, salt, and cream of tartar. Add the water and vegetable oil to the pot. Stir until the mixture is well combined and smooth. Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly. The dough will start to form and pull away from the sides of the pot. Continue stirring until the dough is no longer sticky and forms a ball. Remove the dough from the pot and place it on a clean surface. Allow it to cool slightly, then knead it until it reaches a smooth, pliable consistency. If desired, divide the dough into portions and add food coloring and scents.
Customize your dough
Adding colour to your playdough is simple and can make playtime more vibrant. Gel food colouring works best as it produces rich, vivid hues. After dividing the dough, create a well in each portion and add a few drops of food coloring. Knead the dough until the colour is evenly distributed. For more complex colours, you can mix different shades.
Enhancing playdough with scents adds another layer of sensory fun. Use essential oils like lavender for a calming effect, peppermint for a refreshing aroma, or citrus oils for an invigorating scent. Add a few drops of essential oil to each portion of dough and knead thoroughly. For a more playful approach, you can use flavour extracts like vanilla, almond, or lemon.
To make your playdough even more exciting, consider adding glitter or texture. Fine glitter can be kneaded into the dough to create a sparkling effect, while materials like rice, sand, or small beads can add an interesting texture. Always ensure any additions are safe and non-toxic, especially if young children are playing with the dough.
Store it properly
Proper storage is crucial to keep your homemade playdough fresh and pliable. Store the playdough in airtight containers or resealable plastic bags to prevent it from drying out. If the dough starts to harden, knead a few drops of water into it to restore its softness.