There are several benefits to making your own play doh. It doesn’t dry out as quickly as store bought and it doesn’t become the crumbly mess that store bought does, either. It’s softer and easier to roll, cut, and mold, strengthening the fine motor skills as they play. It’s cheaper, too! It will last for a long time – months longer than store bought would. So how do we make play doh? It’s so easy! And only takes a few minutes. Here’s what you’ll need:
1 cup white flour
2 teaspoons cream of tarter
1/2 cup salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup water
Food coloring (You can choose any kind of food coloring, but we prefer the gel kind)
Directions:
Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. In a separate bowl combine the water and food coloring and vegetable oil. Pour the liquid into a pot on low/medium heat. Then pour in the dry ingredients and stir continually until the mixture rolls up into a ball as you are stirring. This can happen quickly! Place the mixture on wax paper to cool for a minute and then knead it until it is soft and smooth. Wrap your play doh in plastic wrap until it’s used – this will help it be even softer!
You can keep your play doh in plastic wrap or plastic bags for weeks and even months. Don’t leave it exposed to air for long periods of time to make sure it doesn’t dry up. If it won’t be used for an extended period of time we like to store it in a plastic bag in the fridge.
Have fun!
