Easy Homemade Playdough Recipe

As a grandmother who loves crafting and spending quality time with my grandkids, I can assure you that homemade playdough is not only a simple and cost-effective activity, but also a wonderful tool for childhood development. In addition, it can lead to hours of creative play to help foster childrens’ imaginations. Let’s get ready to have some fun!!

There is a simple joy that comes from making things from scratch, isn’t there? Homemade playdough has several advantages over the store-bought variety:

• Cost-Effective: Using only a few pantry staples, you can whip up batches of playdough at a fraction of the cost of playdough from the grocery stores.
• Non-Toxic and Safe: Knowing exactly what goes into your playdough ensures it’s safe for little hands and mouths. 
• It’s Customizable: You can customize the colors and even scents according to your child’s preferences. Holiday scents and colors are extra-fun! Or, try lavender-scented playdough. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil for a calming sensory play experience. Just be sure if you are using essential oils for scenting the playdough that it isn’t something that will irritate the little ones’ skin.
• Simple ingredients right from your pantry: ​Flour, salt, cream of tartar, water, cooking oil, and food coloring. That’s it!

Playing with playdough is more than just fun–it’s a valuable learning experience. Kneading, rolling, squishing and shaping the dough helps strengthen the muscles in children’s hands, which is crucial for developing fine motor skills. These skills are essential for tasks like writing, buttoning clothing, and using scissors. 

Encourage your child to pinch and roll small pieces of playdough between their fingers. This activity enhances dexterity and muscle strength, preparing them for writing and other tasks that require precision. 

You don’t need fancy tools for this activity. Many common household items can make playdough time so much fun!

• Rolling Pins: Perfect for flattening the dough to make pizza, cookies, and other goodies. 
• Cookie Cutters: Young children will enjoy creating fun shapes for their imaginary bakery.
• Plastic Knives and Forks: Be sure these are appropriate for the age of children you have. They are safe for older kids to practice cutting, and plastic forks can be used to make interesting designs.
• Plastic Straws: Use for creating textures or building structures. 

Use an old muffin tin to create “playdough cupcakes.” It’s a simple activity that encourages imagination and helps children practice counting the “cupcakes.” You can even make different colors of playdough cupcakes to practice color recognition. 

You’ll need:

Dry Ingredients:

• 1 cup of flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1/4 cup of salt

Wet Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup of water
• Several drops of food coloring

Equipment and Supplies:

• Medium-sized pot
• A sturdy spoon with a longer handle
• Waxed paper

1. Put all ingredients in a medium-sized pot.
2. Mix everything together. I used a few drops of gel food coloring in blue and the playdough turned out a vibrant blue color! Gel food coloring gives intense colors, while regular liquid food coloring gives a softer hue.
3. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. You will need a heavy spoon, as the dough will become harder to stir and will gather on the spoon.
4. When it is very thick and there are no big goopy places, dump it from the pan onto wax paper.

5. After it has cooled for a minute or so, knead it until it is smooth. I find this part very relaxing!
6. If it is too sticky to knead because I didn’t cook it long enough, I’ve been able to add a bit of flour and knead it in until the playdough is not sticky.
7. Let the playdough cool completely before letting the little ones start playing.

Some variations for this recipe include:

• Snowy Playdough: Leave it white and add some glitter to make perfect playdough snowmen.
• Kool-Aid: Use a package of unsweetened Kool-Aid mix to add color and scent.
• Pumpkin Spice Playdough: Add cinnamon and nutmeg for a relaxing fall scent.
• Double it: This recipe can be doubled to make a lot of playdough. It’s a bit harder to stir when it gets thick, so you will need your muscles. A double batch will give two or three kids a each good-sized chunk of playdough to play with.

To keep your homemade playdough soft and pliable, store it properly.

• Store in an air-tight container: This recipe makes a wonderful, soft dough that keeps for a long time without drying out if you store it in an airtight container or Ziploc bag. Be sure it’s well-sealed so you don’t have dry playdough when it’s time to play!
• Refrigeration: This playdough can be stored at room temperature. If you live in a warm climate, consider refrigerating it to keep it fresh longer. 

Label each bag or container with the date the playdough was made. This helps you keep track of freshness and ensures your child always has the best play experience. 

Children’s play can often lead to little messes. Here are some tips to help.

• General Cleanup: Homemade playdough does sometimes leave a bit of a film on the table surface. It easily cleans up with a bit of homemade vinegar cleaner and a microfiber cloth. Wash childrens’ hands with soap and water after play.
• Protect the Surface: I’d recommend a tray or tablecloth like you’d use for any kids’ art project if you’re worried about your table. 🙂
• Carpet: If someone drops playdough on the floor and tracks it on your carpet with their shoe, allow the playdough to dry. You can then lightly scrape it with the edge of a butter knife and then vacuum up all the little bits. 

I find for younger children, the best way  to let them explore playdough is in their high chair, where they are secure and will not carry playdough all around. I especially love these chairs for older infants and toddlers, because they are low to the ground and there is no risk of falling. 

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