Super Easy Homemade Playdough Recipe For Kids

Inside: A super easy homemade playdough recipe that kids can make! They’ll not only have fun making it, but also playing with it. This playdough activity will keep them occupied for a long time! 

Super Easy Homemade Playdough Recipe For Kids

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Looking for a fun activity to do at home with your kiddos? Why not make playdough at home? It’s actually way easier and quicker than you might think!

It’s honestly just a few simple steps, and you can whip up a batch of playdough that’s not only fun but also safe for little hands. Whether it’s a rainy day or you’re just looking for a cool activity, homemade playdough is the way to go. This is by far one of my family’s favorite things to do when we’re bored and looking to get creative. From toddlers to grade schoolers, heck, even adults, playing with playdough is always a good time. Honestly, it’s pretty therapeutic for any age, too.

Now, you might be wondering, “Why should I make playdough at home when I can just buy it?”

Well, let me tell you, homemade playdough has a bunch of perks! 

• First off, it’s way more cost-effective than store-bought playdough options.
• Plus, you know exactly what’s going into it, which means no weird chemicals – just simple, non-toxic ingredients.
• And the best part? You can customize it! Want to add some lavender essential oil for a calming sensory play? Or maybe mix in some glitter for a bit of sparkle?
• Oh, and you can make it WITH your kids, which they’ll have so much fun doing with you!

Step-by-Step Homemade Playdough Recipe Instructions

Want to know how long this easy playdough recipe is to make? Well, only a mere 20 minutes for the recipe out there.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 Minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Makes: 6 cups

So, what do you need to make this awesome playdough? Chances are, you’ve already got everything in your kitchen! It consists of mainly dry ingredients along with a couple of wet ingredients, all typically found in your pantry. If you are missing an ingredient, it can easily be found at any local grocery store.

Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy play dough recipe:

Ingredients: 

• 3 Cup all-purpose flour
• 3 Cup water
• 6 Tsp cream of tartar
• 1 Cup of salt
• 3 Tbsp canola oil
• Food coloring

Now, let’s get to making the best playdough recipe out there!

First, In a large cooking pot, add all the ingredients except the food coloring. Stir to mix everything up evenly.

Now, you’ll want to turn your stove on medium heat. As you cook the flour mixture over medium/low heat, continue to stir so nothing gets burned.

Keep stirring as the mixture thickens and begins pulling away from the pan’s bottom. Once a dough ball forms, remove the pan from the heat.

Place a piece of wax paper on a work surface. Carefully place the dough ball onto the wax paper-lined work surface. 8. Slit the dough into 6 equal parts.

Make an indent and add a few drops of food coloring to each section of dough. Slowly knead and mix the dough until the food color is incorporated and the desired color has been reached. I recommend using latex gloves if you have them on hand.

Continue until all 6 play dough sections have color.

And that’s it!  Now you’ve made your new favorite homemade playdough recipe! Simple, right?

ADDITIONAL TIPS:

• You can split the dough again and make 12 equal parts for 12 different colors. That’s a lot of playdough colors to have fun with! Experiment with your kids to make different color combinations to make it educational!
• Wait until the dough is completely cool before storing. This helps it not dry out.
• Use sealable plastic sandwich baggies for each color so they don’t bleed together.
• Vegetable oil can be used in place of canola oil at a 1:1 ratio. You can also get away with using olive oil.

CUSTOMIZATION PLAYDOUGH IDEAS:

Fun Playdough Activities

Okay, so we went through the DIY playdough recipe, safety and storage tips, and even how to customize your own play dough. Now, let’s go over some fun activities to do with your batch.

• Shape Cut-Outs: Use cookie cutters to create various shapes. This activity is great for learning about different shapes and enhancing motor skills.
• Playdough Snakes: Roll the dough into long ‘snakes’. This simple task helps with hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
• Mini-World Creation: Encourage kids to create a miniature world or a scene. This sparks creativity and storytelling skills. It’s so fun to see what their little minds come up with.
• Playdough Letters and Numbers: Form letters and numbers with the playdough. It’s a fun way to introduce young children to the alphabet and basic numeracy.

Remember, making your own playdough is not just about following a recipe; it’s about creating a fun, engaging experience for you and the kids. Enjoy your homemade playdough adventure!

Homemade Playdough Recipe

A super easy homemade playdough recipe that kids can make. They'll not only have fun making it, but also playing with it. This playdough activity will keep them occupied for a long time! 

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Servings 6 Dough Balls

Equipment

• 1 Large bowl
• wax paper
• 1 cooking pan
• stirring spoon

Ingredients

  

• 3 cups all-purpose flour 
• 3 cups water
• 6 tsp cream of tartar
• 1 cup salt
• 3 tbsp canola oil
• food coloring

Instructions

 

• In a large cooking pot add all the ingredients except the food coloring. Stir to mix.
• As you cook the flour mixture over medium/low heat, continue to stir. Keep stirring as the mixture thickens and begins pulling away from the pan's bottom.
• Once a dough ball forms remove the pan from the heat.
• Place a piece of wax paper on a work surface.
• Carefully place the dough ball onto the wax paper-lined work surface.
• Slit into 6 equal parts
• Make an indent and add a few drops of food coloring to each section of dough. Slowly knead and mix the dough until the food color is incorporated and the desired color has been reached.
• 10. Continue until all 6 play dough sections have color.

Notes

Substitutions:
1. You can split the dough again and make 12 equal parts for 12 total colors.
2. Wait until the dough is completely cool before storing.
3. Use sealable plastic sandwich baggies for each color.
4. Vegetable oil can be used in place of canola oil at a 1:1 ratio.

Keyword playdough

How to Fix Common Playdough Issues

Now, you might run into some issues with the playdough, so let’s go through some was to troubleshoot your playdough problems.

• Sticky Dough: If the playdough is too sticky, gradually add a little more flour until the desired consistency is reached.
• Dry Dough: For playdough that’s too dry, add a small amount of hot water and knead it in until it becomes pliable.
• Lumpy Dough: Ensure consistent stirring on medium heat during the cooking process to avoid lumps.
• Faded Colors: For more vibrant colors, add extra gel food coloring next time. The color intensifies as the playdough cooks.

These simple fixes above should cover any issues you might run into with your playdough.

Final Thought

So, there you have it – making your own playdough is not just easy and cost-effective, it’s a whole lot of fun!

It’s such a great way to bond with your kids and ignite their creativity without breaking the bank. It’s also a perfect rainy day activity, or really for any day when you and the kids want to get creative.

Whether it’s molding funky shapes on a lazy afternoon or just squishing and rolling for some sensory fun, this playdough recipe promises lots of laughter and fun.

I’m super excited to hear all about your playdough escapades and see the amazing creations you and your little ones come up with.I’d love to hear how your playdough adventures go, so please give this recipe a try and share your experiences. Who knows, you might just come up with the best homemade playdough recipe yet!

Got questions? I’ve got answers! Feel free to drop any questions about the playdough recipe in the comments. And hey, if you’ve got some cool tips or your own variations, I’d love to hear them. Let’s make this a space for sharing all things playdough!

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