Are you interested in making your own homemade play dough? It’s a great way to have some fun with your kids and share a truly sensory experience. Parents and babysitters love play dough because it encourages creativity, keeps small hands busy, and doesn’t make a disastrous mess. Kids love it because it’s colorful and squishy, and they get to use tools that look just like the grown-ups’ utensils in the kitchen.
Sure, you can buy play dough at the store, but making it yourself is quick, fun and even easier than you might think. This simple, no-cook method for making play dough allows even the youngest children to help:
Simple Homemade Play Dough Recipe
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 tbsp. oil
1/2 to 1 cup of water, as needed to reach desired consistency
2 drops of liquid food coloring, if desired
To Make:
Combine all ingredients, adjusting flour and water if the dough is too dry or too sticky. Knead well. Now you’re ready to roll, shape and squish away!
Additional Homemade Play Dough Recipes
If you’re looking for a way to get brighter colors, a smoother feel or a deliciously scented dough, you’re in luck! Check out these links for plenty of easy-to-follow instructions that will kick your DIY play dough up a notch. There’s even a recipe for edible play dough that’s sure to be a hit with your little ones.
- Naturally-Dyed Play Dough
This recipe from Mommypotamus includes instructions for coloring your play dough with natural dyes, made from items you probably already have around the house.
- Super Smooth Play Dough
Made with Jell-O, this colorful homemade play dough from Modern Parents Messy Kids feels great and smells amazing! Kids will have fun choosing which Jell-O flavors to use. Although it’s not meant to be eaten, the dough is completely nontoxic, just in case they can’t resist checking to see if it tastes as good as it smells.
- Soft as a Cloud Play Dough
Requiring only two ingredients, this recipe from Paging Fun Mums makes an unbelievably soft and stretchy dough. Your kids won’t be able to keep their hands out of it.
- Crayon Play Dough
Looking for a way to use up all those broken crayon pieces no one’s coloring with anymore? This super cool recipe from Sugar Aunts lets you make beautifully colored play dough while recycling those odds and ends from the crayon box at the same time.
- Aromatherapy Play Dough
This recipe from The Prairie Homestead uses essential oils, allowing you to customize your play dough with a little aromatherapy. Play time never smelled so good.
- Edible Peanut Butter Play Dough
Since bits of play dough often make it into the mouths of little ones anyway, why not make it with something that actually tastes good? This recipe from Kids Activities Blog calls for three ingredients. Yes, peanut butter is one of them. It’s a little stickier than most, but kids love being able to lick their fingers and play with their food.
How to Store Your Play Dough
Once you’ve chosen the recipe and created the dough that’s right for you, you’ll need to store it away for next time so it doesn’t get dried out. However, the edible peanut butter play dough isn’t meant to last for more than one use, so make sure to throw that out if your kids haven’t gobbled it up. The best way to store the others is to either wrap balls of the dough in plastic wrap or place them in zippered plastic bags and keep them in your fridge. Most play dough will last about a month if wrapped this way. Have fun!
Looking for more? Check out 7 Ways to Make Homemade Silly Putty!
Kate Parlin is a mom of three girls (two of whom are twins!) who writes for numerous websites and publications, including her blog, Shakespeare’s Mom.
