Today at preschool my 4 year old informed Teacher Liz that he was much too old to play with play dough. But what was the first thing he said when we got in the car? “Mommy, let’s make play dough when we get home!” Before we started at LVPPP I’d struggled to find a good recipe for home made play dough. Too goopy, too hard, too oily – there was always something wrong with it. One of the benefits of a parent participation preschool is that you are privy to all the inside secrets. The school’s recipe for play dough is no exception.
It’s definitely the best recipe I’ve used. The dough comes out super soft and pliable, perfect for little hands. As a bonus, this recipe is cooked so the dough is warm when you first make it, which is so nice on the hands as the days get cool.
So, if you’re ever called on to make play dough in a pinch, here’s the recipe you should use:
Play Dough Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 2 cups water
- ½ cup salt
- 1 tbsp food colouring
- ¼ cup cream of tartar
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
Method:
Mix the dry ingredients together in a medium pot. Mix wet ingredients into the 2 cups of water and then add them to the pot. Stir well. It will look like a goopy mess but keep stirring over a medium heat until the mixture forms into a ball. Place dough on the table and roll into small balls.
For variations add glitter to your play dough or add the food colouring once your dough is made for a mottled effect.
And did you know that play dough is great for building the fine motor muscles and skills that your child will need for writing. All the more reason to break out the dough and get creative!
Diana Davis, LVPPP President
lynnvalleypreschool.ca 