Make Playdough with our Recipe.

I make sure that there is always a bag of playdough in the fridge. It is a wonderful activity to introduce when Mommy has some work to do, like cook supper! Why is it that you are needed the most when it's time to start dinner?!

Today we needed to make a fresh batch. I always find the beginning of the 'making of playdough' activity, very difficult. I can't help trying to contain the mess... 'careful', I say. 'Don't sift too quickly... we don't want to get flour on the floor!' My voice reaches a shrill pitch.

Who am I kidding... flour ends up all over the kitchen and once I let go of my 'mess phobia' we all have a wonderful time. So much more fun than a clean kitchen is worth! Besides, it only takes a minute of sweeping afterwards to clean it up.

How nice flour feels, cool and soft!

How interesting it is to make a blanket of white snow with the sieve!
How wonderful it feels to scoop it in our hands and let it drop back into the bowl!
How squishy it feels between our toes!
How sweet we look with our face dusted white with flour!
This is our recipe... it has always made wonderful playdough.

PLAYDOUGH

• 3 cups flour + a little set aside for kneeding
  
• 1/2 cups salt
  
• 2 tbs. cream of tatar (usually found in the supermarket spice section)
  
• 2 tbs. vegetable oil
  
• 2 cups boiling water
  
• a few drops of essential oil (optional but oh so nice for added sensory pleasure)
  

METHOD

• Mix together all the dry ingredients.
  
• Add the oil to the boiling water (add a few drops essential oil here; our favorites are lavender, peppermint or eucalyptus.
  
• Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, carefully (it is hot!)

Kneed, using a little additional flour until the consistency is just right (not too sticky, not too dry).

I sometimes divide the playdough into 6 balls and add a different colour to each ball. I try to use natural colouring (but often need the speed of food colouring).

A few drops of beet juice makes a soft pink.

A few drops of fresh blueberry juice makes a lovely blue/purple.

Tumeric makes a beautiful yellow (although it does have a funky smell)

Water from boiled marigolds make a gorgeous yellow/orange.

I make our playdough in advance as it takes about 15 minutes to make and we usually need it quicker that that!

I keep our playdough in a ziplock bag in the fridge. When it’s time to play with it, I pop it into the microwave for 5 - 10 seconds. This takes off the fridge chill, making it pliable and not too cold for little hands.

And what, you might ask, did we make with our playdough today?

This proves the theory that 'monkey see, monkey do'...

Blessings and magic!