Having taught preschool for 30 years, I have never found a better recipe for playdough than this one. It is soft, extremely moldable, keeps well in an airtight container, cleans up from carpets when dry, and is a surefire winner with the children! It can be done on the stove in a saucepan or in an electric skillet. It is useful in conjunction with learning about sequencing when it is prepared with the children. It even makes a nice homemade birthday gift when packaged with fun cookie cutters and a child-size rolling pin! When children work with playdough they acquire small motor strength, learn cooperation when working with one or more other children, bolster their creativity and imagination, use the sense of sight, touch, and smell, and have loads of fun!
Sequencing is an important pre-reading skill. Young children need to understand how to follow directions in an order from first to last, beginning to end, one to ten, etc. It is helpful to explain that in order to make playdough, a person has to follow a recipe. Before beginning to cook, ask the child if they are familiar with the term “recipe.” Look through a recipe book to see what kinds of things are included in a recipe. Then, gather together the needed items: electric skillet or saucepan, measuring cups, measuring spoons, spoon for stirring, vegetable oil, cream of tartar, salt, food coloring, waxed paper, and an airtight container. Children can help measure ingredients, pour them in the pan, and decide what type of playdough to make. Next, explain the necessary safety rules: 1) The pan will be hot so hands need to stay away from any part of the pan. 2) An adult should do the stirring once the pan becomes hot. 3)Children should stay a safe distance away from the heat source. Ready?
Here is the recipe:
1. In an electric skillet or saucepan on the stove, mix 2 cups white flour, 2 Tbls. cream of tartar, and ½ cup salt.
2. In a separate bowl, mix 2 cups of water with 2 Tbls. vegetable oil. Add in paste food coloring in a color of your choice (see “Variations” below).
3. Turn the heat on to a medium temperature, and then gradually add the wet ingredients to the pan.
4. Stir constantly until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan and forms a ball.
5. Dump mixture onto a sheet of waxed paper that has been laid out on the countertop.
6. When playdough has had a chance to cool slightly, knead with your hands until it is cool and smooth.
7. Store in airtight container.
Variations:
Instead of using food coloring, try adding one package of unsweetened powdered drink mix. You’ll have colorful and good smelling playdough!
Instead of water, try using coffee! It smells great!
Add cocoa, pumpkin pie spice, peppermint flavoring, or cinnamon for wonderful scents!
Mix in sawdust, dried coffee grounds, glitter, cornmeal, or sand for interesting textures!
There are all kinds of “tools” you can use with playdough: rolling pins, safety scissors, craft sticks, and plastic cookie cutters.
Provide cookie sheets and hot pads for making pretend cookies!
Provide rolling pins and pie tins for making pies and tarts!
Make a forest using white playdough, twigs, small artificial trees, rocks, and miniature animals!
Your imagination is your only limit! Playdough can be incorporated into almost any play scenario. As an adult, it gives you another chance to experience the wonders of being a child! Enjoy!
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