Playdough is a colorful classic that keeps li’l hands busy for hours! It’s fun and engaging, plus it helps to develop those fine motor skills while using imagination. You might know it well, but did you know that you can make playdough yourself? All it takes is a few simple ingredients and 10 minutes of your time. Then, you can roll it, squish it, sculpt a masterpiece, or cut it into shapes – and pop it into a bag so you can do it all again later!
This recipe makes about 4 cups of soft, squishy playdough for kids to enjoy. Since heat is involved, please use caution and have a grown-up manage the cooking process. Kiddos can mix in the colors as soon as the playdough has cooled down!
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup salt
4 tsp cream of tartar
2 cups warm water
2 tbsp of vegetable oil
Directions
- Whisk the flour, salt, and cream of tartar together in a large pot. Pour in the water and the oil. For one single color, add a few drops of food coloring at this step. Then, stir gently.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula. The mixture will thicken gradually. Continue to stir until the playdough is thick and begins to form into a ball.
- Turn off the heat. Remove the playdough from the pot and place it in a bowl or on a sheet of wax paper. Allow the dough to cool for about 5 minutes.
- Separate the playdough into balls, then place each ball into a separate bag. Add food coloring to each bag, then close them tightly. Knead each bag until the dough is uniform in color, about 2 minutes.
There you have it! Homemade playdough that is silky soft and oh-so fun to play with. Your Li’l Woodzeez friends are big fans of this activity, be it a rainy day, a day that is too hot, or any day that kneads a pick-me-up. Store your homemade playdough in an airtight container and take it out anytime – it should keep for up to 3 months. Happy playing!
