Design Your Own Play Dough

Jul 11, 2018 | 0 comments

We are always searching for new and fun play dough ideas around here.
The most popular idea of late involves using our freshly-cooked play dough as a canvas.

Find our favourite play dough recipe here

Once you have a fresh batch of play dough, pour some liquid water colours into a palette and gather a selection of painting tools. Food dye could also be used in place of liquid water colours. Perhaps water down food dye as that stuff can leave your hands stained for days!

We always cover our work space with some baking paper.
WARNING: hands will become colourful with this activity. Which increases the fun by about 6000%. If stained hands are a concern for you or your little one, I’d advise wearing gloves.

Explore colour mixing

Roll out a piece of play dough and experiment with adding different water colours. What happens when you massage the colours into the dough? What colour do you end up with?

Paint shapes

Cookie cutters+ play dough = a natural partnership.
Use your cookie cutters to cut out shapes and paint your shapes all of the colours.

Experiment with different tools

My kids will never say no to an activity involving pipettes. They are a great way to add colour to your play dough canvas.
You could invite your mini artists to experiment with all kinds of different paintbrushes.

Check out all of these play dough ideas in the video

Play dough is such an excellent way to develop fine motor skills.
If you’re after even more simple but FUN ideas to encourage your children to develop their important hand muscles, then check out the Happy Hands eBook.

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DIY Christmas Gifts: Play Dough

Nov 13, 2015 | 15 comments

Here’s an economical and easy DIY play dough recipe that makes a perfect Christmas gift for little friends.

My go-to recipe has always been this one from K-3 Teacher Resources.

2 cups of plain flour
4 tablespoons of cream of tartar
2 tablespoons of cooking oil
1 cup of salt
2 cups of boiling water
food colouring

Whack all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix.
Add in oil and boiling water.
It will be quite sticky.
Scoop it out onto a floured surface and keep kneading until it comes together.
To colour play dough, I put portions in a zip lock bag and add the food colouring.
Zip lock the bag and massage the colour in.
I store play dough in plastic takeaway containers.

You can add some festive cookie cutters….

Add some crafty bits and pieces…

I have previously professed my love for my local dollar shop.
Peruse the aisles and add some little toys…

Personally, I gift play dough with ulterior motives.
I’ve learned that if you encourage the giftee to open their present upon receiving it, they will often become enthralled in playing with the play dough, thus giving the adults at least 15 minutes of peace and quiet.
You’re welcome.

You could also try this Design Your Own Play Dough project.

Do you have any economical, go-to Christmas gifts for little friends?

If you’re after even more simple but FUN ideas to encourage your children to develop their important hand muscles, then check out the Happy Hands eBook.