Simple Play Dough Recipe

I am one of those moms who reads about how good sensory play is for kids! I also am one of those moms who gets incredibly anxious about messes. Learning through play quite literally helps with the development of their brain. Sensory actives has to be the most healthiest, nurturing way for your children to grow!

I have shared multiple sensory activities in my Easy Preschool Sensory Activities post, and most are relatively easy to follow!

The biggest tips I have for using play dough without the anxiety ridden mess fear is this:

get your kiddos to play on a giant shower curtain so you have an easy clean up time
place lots of cookie cutters, plastic utensils, cups, and other toys that are easy to clean

This is an easy recipe that works great in multiple batches, is extremely soft, quick clean up, and smells amazing if you use juice crystals.

Simple Play Dough Recipe

Materials:

For each batch, this is the amount! I usually make a triple batch (multiplying all the ingredients by 3).

1 cup of all purpose flour
1 cup of lukewarm water
1/3 cup of salt
2 teaspoons of cream of tartar
1 tablespoon of olive oil
a couple drops of food colouring, or coloured juice crystals
a large freezer bag or 2 sheets of wax paper
large pot
mixing utensil
Optional: spray your pot with pam or lightly coat with oil to help ensure none of the dough sticks, as well as easy clean up

Instructions:

Spray or lightly coat the pot with oil. Heat the pot to medium- medium low to ensure controllable cooking temperature so you don’t “crisp” and accidentally fry the play dough.
Add all the dry ingredients and give it a good little stir.
Add all the wet ingredients and combine well.
Continuously stir and make sure the play dough mixture is not sticking to the bottom of the pot.
(if you are making it all one colour, add the colouring in now)
Once the play dough is thickening and has formed a soft, yet firm ball (should look very similar to play dough), remove from heat into the freezer bag. If you are making multiple different colours, separate into different bags and add the colouring now.
Knead dough until super soft and it for sure doesn’t stick to the counter. I wait for my play dough to cool off for a couple minutes just so I don’t get burned at all from kneading it.
Keep in an airtight bag or container to ensure it does not dry out!

If you read my last post on How To Affordably and Successfully Homeschool Your Preschooler, you need to! I chat more ways on sensory play, how to get all the materials + books cheap, and discussing it doesn't have to be a huge financial investment. Also check out: 60+ Free Homeschool Resources!

“Whenever you feel discouraged, just remember, you are the centre of the universe to those tiny humans you made from scratch. You’re kind of a big deal!”

Learning from home has created a bond with my children that has become strengthened. I we have had to learn more about each other and deepen our understanding about each other, which truly have been an amazing gift.

If you haven’t already taken the opportunity to check out my entire homeschool section, I truly feel like you would fall in love with all the free content I have provided! I know that times are difficult, and wanting to save money is always an amazing plus!

Did you know…

I have an entire article on 60+ free homeschool resources!

I wanted to fill your feeling of “lost” on the topic of homeschooling, and provide resources from curriculum for all ages, kindergarten worksheets, elementary resources, middle school resources, high school resources, homeschooling planners, faith building worksheets, parenting resources, and even moms on YouTube who share their stories.