Play Dough Recipe

Most kids love play dough.  My just-turned-five-year-old is no exception.  It might be obvious to you what he is making.  But I had to ask.“Mom,” he said, “dese are tanks an’ artiwery and d’ey’re having a battle!” 

I knew that.  

Heh-hem.   Anyways…

I love the smell of new Play-Doh.  And the feel of its soft smoothness in my fingers.  However, I usually have the worst luck trying to keep store-bought play dough (of any brand) fresh.  Often, it turns sticky or hard long before I think I’ve gotten my money’s worth. 

So when I began working with children, I experimented with different recipes for homemade play dough.  Many of you probably have a recipe tucked away.  But I wanted to share mine for those who don’t, or who have one which doesn’t work well. 

With this recipe, I could make a batch of homemade play dough at the beginning of the school year and it would stay soft and workable (without getting sticky) pretty much indefinitely.  I’d keep it until I imagined the germies from all those little fingers were breeding like bunnies.  :)   

It’s quick, easy, uses things most of us have on hand, and cheap to make!

Homemade Play Dough

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 T or less oil
• 2 t cream of tarter
• 1 cup water
• food coloring (if desired)

Stir over heat until it pulls from the sides of the pan, then turn it onto a piece of aluminum foil to cool. Store it in an air tight container.

You can read lots of cool stuff about Play-Doh at How Stuff Works. They even refer to the same ingredients that I've posted. They said the cream of tarter acts as a stiffener. I always wondered why cream of tarter was called for!

Saving a little money, having fun in the kitchen with your kids, and ending up with something that they’ll play with for countless hours-on-end definitely works for me! 

For other great Works For Me Wednesday tips and ideas, visit We Are That Family!