53 Easy Homemade Playdough Recipes for Kids

Homemade Playdough Recipes

A collection of homemade playdough recipes to make. These are great for at home or in the classroom. Recipes such as no cook playdough, peanut butter playdough, microwave playdough

Wow! You’ll be amazed at the wonderful variety of play dough and modeling concoctions you can make–using some really fun ingredients!

Tooth paste, potatoes, shampoo, peanut butter, oatmeal, coffee, frosting, lint, applesauce, soap, toilet paper, sawdust, cream cheese, cotton balls, newspaper strips and more. Kids of all ages love making and playing with play dough. It’s not only fun but a great way to save program dollars!  Most of them are ‘NO COOK’…so make it often!!!

If you meant to look for goop, gak, slime and fun-type recipes Click here

No Cook Playdough Recipes

An image of a girl playing with many colors of playdough at a table and text reading no cook play dough recipes for kids.

1. 1-2-3 PLAY DOUGH

One-cup cold water
One-cup salt
Two-teaspoons vegetable oil
Two tablespoons cornstarch
Three cups flour
Tempera paint or food coloring (adjust amount for color desired)
Mix the water, salt, oil and paint together.
Gradually work in the flour and cornstarch until you get the consistency of bread dough.

 

2.  NO COOK KOOL AID PLAYDOUGH  #1

This is my favorite play dough because–it’s fast–no cooking–easy ingredients and smells good—tastes bad…

The original recipe calls for 1 cup of flour–however just having made it–we added  another two or three cups of flour. When making play dough, you can always add more flour if it is too wet and a little more hot water if it’s too dry! My 4.5 and 6 year old grand-daughters thought it was the greatest thing ever! (Barb 10/3/10)
Need:
2 1/2 c flour, sifted
1/2 c salt
3 T cooking oil
1 pkg Kool-aid (unsweetened)
1 c very hot water
Mix together flour, salt, oil, and Kool-aid.
Add the cup of almost boiling water. Mix well.
Knead the mixture until it forms a soft dough.
Have fun!
Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Your play dough will be the scent and color of the Kool-Aid!
*Any other unsweetened, powdered drink mix may be substituted.
*There may be colored hands but it washes off. (My own experiences have never produced colored hands–hower some have said theirs did.)

3. KOOL AID PLAYDOUGH #2

1 cup flour
1 cup water
1/2 cup salt
3 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
1 package Kool-Aid Mix (any flavor of unsweetened)
1 tablespoon cooking oil
Mix dry ingredients together in a large sauce pan. Slowly add water mixed with oil and stir over medium heat until mixture thickens to dough. Turn out onto a heatproof bread board or counter top and knead until cool enough for children to handle. Dough will be the color of the Kool-Aid mix and will smell like the Kool-Aid mix. (Can be stored in a tightly covered container for up to six months)

4. KOOL AID SCENTED PLAYDOUGH RECIPE

2 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. salt
2 c. boiling water
1 tbsp. alum
3 tbsp. cooking oil
1-2 pkg. Kool-Aid (# of pkg. will determine color)
Mix dry ingredients.
Add boiling water and stir quickly.
Add cooking oil and mix well.
When cool enough, use hands.
Keeps well in airtight container in refrigerator.

5. MICROWAVE PLAYDOUGH RECIPE

1 c. flour
3/4 c. water
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 pkg. unsweetened kool aid
1/2 c. salt
1 tbsp. cooking oil
1 tsp. powdered alum
Combine ingredients.
Heat in microwave and stir until mixture forms a soft ball.
Stir about every 10 seconds.
Put mixture on tray or wax paper and knead until cool.
Store in an airtight container. Source: Cooks.com

6. BABY OIL PLAYDOUGH RECIPE

Mix together:
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 cups water plus food coloring
2 tablespoons baby oil (other oil can work, too)
Place over low heat and stir often until playdough is the consistency of mashed potatoes. Knead when cool.

7. MASHED POTATO PLAYDOUGH

Need: Five potatoes, Flour
Bake potatoes in their skins until they are ‘eating consistency’ soft. Peel and then mash the potatoes. Combine three cups flour to every four cups of mashed potato and roll until you form a good dough.

You can also make mashed potato mountains using INSTANT POTATO FLAKES  with a little less water than potato directions give. (You want a thicker consistency) When potatoes are cool, it is ready to use.

8. JELL-O PLAYDOUGH 

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
1 tablespoon oil
2 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
1 (3-1/2 oz.) package “unsweetened” Jell-O
Mix all ingredients together and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until consistency of mashed potatoes.
Let cool and knead with floured hands until dry.
*Storage: This recipe needs to cool completely “before” storing it in an airtight container!
*Note: The items made from this play dough recipe can be painted when they are dry.

9. BIRD SEED PLAYDOUGH

Birdseed
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
Water

Mix flour, salt & birdseed with sufficient water to make play dough texture.

NOTE: When done playing, do NOT place the play dough outsdoors for the birds. Salt can be dangerous to animals including birds. It can make them ill–or kill them if consumed in large quantities.

THREE SAND DOUGH RECIPES

10. SAND TEXTURED PLAY DOUGH RECIPE

½ cup sand
½ cup cornstarch
½ cup boiling water
Mix ingredients together and knead.

11. SAND PLAY RECIPE #2

• 1 part white glue
• 2 parts flour
• 2 parts sand
• 2 parts water
Mix together to create a dough. You may need to add water or flour depending on the consistency.

12. SAND PLAY RECIPE #3

Add sand to quick set cement and follow the instructions for mixing the cement. Use this recipe when you have a mold or have created a pattern in the sand.

HOMEMADE ‘MOON’ SAND (Way cheaper than buying it!)
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups water
3 cups corn starch
6 cups play sand
Optional: Add package of Kool-aid if want it colored

Recipe for 1 batch…

1. First thoroughly mix together the sand, cornstarch, and water. It will take a few minutes to get it smooth. Really work it in with your fingers…and then it’s done!

2. You may need to add a bit more water–but be careful and add just a small amount at a time; it could get goopy.

3. When done–Place in an airtight container. Next time, revive it with 2-3 tablespoons of water. Just sprinkle it over and work it in.

FYI:
•Play sand comes in a variety or colors. A 50lb bag of play sand is usually about $5.00.
•To use the entire 50 pounds, you’d need 24 boxes of cornstarch.
•It may not make perfect sandcastles, but is fun to squeeze, squish, bury things, make handprints & other shapes. Some have said their castles came out nicely! Let us know!

13. PLAY DOUGH that LOOKS LIKE MUD!

Bring 3 cups water and 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil to a boil.
While the mixture is heating, put 3 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons cream of tartar, and 1 1/2 cups salt into a large bowl.

  • Carefully mix the wet and dry together and knead until smooth.
  •  For the SPRING time and MUD additions, add brown tempera paint (either dry or liquid) and 2 or 3 Tablespoons of coffee grounds. It really looks like dirt!

NOTE: I came across a site that used the above recipe to enhance a study unit — Wormy Wednesday–Worm Diet and Predators! The website is titled No doubt learning.

Andrea, the website publisher has this to say about “Mud  Play Dough”…

I whipped up a batch of “MUD” play dough following the recipe from kidactivities.net.  This playdough really does look like dirt and even incorporates coffee grounds (which worms eat!)!  Using rubber fishing worms and a bag of “junk” (a collection of leftover shells, beads, beans, rocks, etc.) my girls were asked to show how a worm lives, what a worm eats, and how it protects itself from predators. (Thank you, Andrea!)

14. MAKE MOON CRATERS

Materials Needed:
Liquid Starch
Rock Salt,
Glue with food coloring
Procedure:
Mix 1/2 cup of liquid starch with 2 cups of rock salt and 1/2 cup of glue plus food coloring or tempera.
This makes a gooey, rocky mixture.
Let the children freely pile onto cardboard to create a three-dimensional structure.

Fun Food Playdough Recipes

An image of someone decorating playdough. There's a rolling pin and cookie cutters laid out on the table. Text reading fun food playdough recipes for kids.

15. PEANUT BUTTER PLAYDOUGH RECIPE

2 cups smooth peanut butter
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups dried milk
2/3 cups honey
Mix all ingredients until thoroughly combined.
Storage: When not using, MUST be stored in an airtight container

16. EDIBLE PEANUT BUTTER CLAY Recipe #2

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 cups instant powdered milk
3 tablespoons honey
Stir together peanut butter, instant milk and honey. Knead dough until smooth. If dough is too moist, add more powdered milk. If dough is too dry, add more honey.
Store unused dough in the refrigerator

17. PEANUT BUTTER PLAYDOUGH (#3-similar to above)

Eight oz. peanut butter
Six tablespoons honey
Nonfat dry milk
Mix all ingredients, adding enough dry milk to make dough pliable

An image of a face made from coffee playdough.

18. COFFEE PLAYDOUGH

2 cups used coffee grounds
1 ½ cups cornmeal
½ cup salt
water
flour
Mix all ingredients until pliable. Add water, flour as needed to achieve a working consistency.

19. OATMEAL PLAYDOUGH RECIPE

One part flour
One part water
Two parts oatmeal
Mix all ingredients well until smooth. Knead and play.

20. CHOCOLATE SCENTED PLAYDOUGH

(Non-Edible)
1 ¼ cups flour
½ cup cocoa powder
½ cup salt
½ tablespoon cream of tartar
1 ½ tablespoons cooking oil
1 cup boiling water
Mix the dry ingredients. Add the oil and boiling water. Stir quickly, mixing well. When cool, mix with your hands.

21. FROSTING PLAYDOUGH

1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
Mixing bowl
Spoon
Storage Container
Refrigerator
• Gather all ingredients, spoon and mixing bowl.
• Mix together with spoon and hands until it reaches desired consistency.
• This can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated. Next time you want to use it, let it come to room temperature.

22. COTTON BALL PUFF DOUGH

1 cup flour
1 cup water
1 bag of white, cotton balls
Mix flour and water together to make a paste.
Roll cotton balls in the paste and carefully lift them out.
Excess paste will fall off.
Have  children form the dough into desired shapes on a baking sheet. Bake the shapes for one hour at 325 degrees.

23. TOOTH PASTE PUTTY

½ tsp toothpaste (cream not gel)
1 tsp white glue
2 tsp cornstarch
½ tsp water
Mix toothpaste, glue and cornstarch. Add water until you have a lump of putty. Wash and dry hands. Squeeze and roll putty into a ball, the more it is rolled and pulled the better it gets. It will begin to dry in 20 minutes. Just add a drop of water to soften. Will dry rock hard in 24 hours.

24. PAINTABLE PLAYDOUGH

1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup salt
3/4 cup boiling water
Mix the ingredients, knead once or twice.
Refrigerate until cold.
This recipe makes dough that is great for

25. WHITE BREAD DOUGH

#1 RECIPE
7 Pieces of White Bread
7 Tsp School Glue
1/2 Tsp Water
1/2 Tsp Dish soap
Instructions: 
Need:
Stale white bread (Cut crusts off of bread)
White glue
Tablespoon
Plastic baggie

  • Break the bread into small pieces and put in a medium sized bowl.
  • Add glue — mix thoroughly.
  • Add water and dish soap and mix until it’s a nice clay consistency.
  • If the mixture is too dry, add a bit more water. You can make shapes and let air dry. Takes about 24 hours.

#2 Recipe

  • Take a white piece of stale bread and mix one tablespoon of white glue in a plastic baggie and knead until bread absorbs the glue.
  • Take the clay out of the bag and knead until soft.
  • You can also add food coloring before you add the bread.

The clay will keep for several weeks in the refrigerator.

26. BREAD CLAY

Ingredients:
6 slices white bread
6 tbsps. white glue
1/2 tsp. detergent or 2 tsp. glycerin
Food coloring
Instructions:
1.  Remove crusts from bread and knead with glue. Add either detergent or glycerin.
2.  Knead until no longer sticky.
3.  Separate into portions and add food coloring if desired.
4.  Shape and brush with equal parts of glue and water for a glossy coat. Allow to dry overnight to harden.
5.  Paint with acrylic paint. Seal with clear nail polish.
(This version from Sarah in Oakbrook)

27. CORNMEAL DOUGH

2 cups cornmeal
1 cup salt
Tempera paint for color
Water

Mix cornmeal, salt and paint  with enough water to make a playdough texture.

NOTE: A comment from Michele Ridgeway was made on Kid Activities face book page… It comes out just like wet cornmeal and salt would– not very doughy at all.  The children liked patting it on trays and squishing it around and it smells really nice. I didn’t add any color to it, as we’re talking about harvest and native americans in our classroom. I’m going to put it out again tomorrow. Children helped to make it– as the recipe is pretty simple. Thanks (Thank you Michele!)

MAKE FOSSILS with this recipe, or mold it like any other play dough.
Need:
1 cup Used coffee grounds
1/2 cup Cold coffee
1 cup Flour
1/2 cup Salt
Wax paper
Mixing bowl
Objects to make impressions: Small plastic animals, shells, leaves, etc.
Empty can or butter knife
Toothpicks

  • Stir the coffee grounds, cold coffee, flour and salt until well mixed. Knead the dough together and flatten it out onto the waxed paper.
  • Use the can to cut circles or the knife to cut slabs.
  • Press your objects firmly into the dough, when you take the object out, you have your fossil.
  • Let dry….
  • If you want to hang the fossil, poke holes into the edge to be able to hang.
  • Let dry overnight and hang.
    From: kid.lifetips.com

28. JEWELRY CLAY

3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup cornstarch
Warm water
1.  Mix dry ingredients together.
2.  Gradually add warm water until the mixture can be kneaded into shapes.
3.  Good idea to have an Adult supervise  with younger children so the mix doesn’t become too watery.

TO FORM BEADS WITH JEWELRY CLAY: Break dough into little balls, rolling it to the desired shape; pierce the balls with toothpicks. Allow the balls to dry.
When dry, paint and string the beads.

29. PLAIN OLD MUD!

Just go outdoors and get a shovel full of dirt.
Place it in a bowl and add a small amount of water.
To dry the mud creations, just put creations out in in the sun!

30. VEGETABLE COLORED PLAYDOUGH

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup water
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
Choice of Beet, Spinach or Carrot juice

  • Mix flour, salt and oil, and slowly add water.
  • Cook over medium heat, stirring until dough becomes stiff.
  • Turn out onto wax paper and let cool.
  • Knead the dough until of the proper consistency.
  • This can be used without the color or divide into balls and add a few drops of the vegetable juices.
  • Spinach juice makes green; Beet juice makes pink and Carrot juice makes orange.

31. DRYER LINT MODELING MATERIAL

3 cups Lint (from laundry dryers)
2 cups Cold or warm water
2/3 cups Non-self-rising wheat flour
3 drops oil of wintergreen
Old newspaper Put lint and water in a large saucepan.

  • Stir to dampen all parts of the lint.
  • Add flour and stir thoroughly to prevent lumps.
  • Add oil of wintergreen.
  • Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture holds together and forms peaks.
  • Pour out onto several thicknesses of newspaper to cool.
  • You can play with it as dough or…press over a mold or use as you would paper-mâché pulp. You can  shaped over boxes, bottles, balloons, etc.
    *This material will dry in 3 to 5 days to a very hard, durable surface.

When wet it has a felt like consistency. It dries to smooth or rough, depending on how it is used. When pressed into a mold, a hard, smooth finish is obtained. *Stored in an airtight container, it will keep for several days.

32. SPARKLING SNOW DOUGH

2 cups water
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 tsp. cream of tartar
4 tsp. oil
Iridescent glitter
1.  Combine ingredients in a heavy saucepan.
2.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with wooden spoon- until mixture thickens and pulls away from sides of pan.
3.  Form dough into a ball, place on waxed paper and cool.

33. SAWDUST DOUGH

1 cup sawdust, ½ cup wallpaper paste, water
Mix sawdust and paste together adding enough water to form a soft putty like mixture.

34. SAWDUST MODELING CLAY

Materials:
4 cups sifted sawdust,
1½ cups dry wallpaper paste,
¼ cup plaster of paris
Procedure:
Mix ingredients together and add water to make mixture the consistency of clay.
Let projects dry naturally in the sun or a well-ventilated place.
To store the mixture, cover with a damp cloth or plastic bag.

35. HOMEMADE SNOW

Need:
Four bars of Ivory Soap
Twelve rolls of toilet paper
3 cups borax
Warm water
Large plastic tub with a tight lid.

  • Unroll and shred toilet paper into plastic tub.
  • Add water until paper is covered.
  • Grate the soap into the soaking paper.
  • Add the borax.
  • If the mixture ends up too wet, drain over a fine screen or cheese
    cloth.
    Play with SCOOPS, AND BOWLS, AND MOLDS.
    *This will keep for several weeks in an airtight container if no ingredients are added.

A picture of a heart and Christmas tree shaped ornament made from gingerbread cinnamon dough

36. APPLESAUCE AND CINNAMON PLAYDOUGH

See two other more exact recipes to create Holiday ornaments here…

1 Cup Applesauce
1 Cup Cinnamon
Instructions:
1.  Mix the applesauce and the cinnamon until it gets to a nice clay consistency.
2.  If too sticky, add a bit more cinnamon or even a touch of flour.
3.  You can make shapes and designs or use cookie cutters.
4.  Put the shapes in a warm, dry spot to dry – this takes a few days!
5.  You now have sweet-smelling sculptures to decorate and/or paint.

37. GINGERBREAD CINNAMON DOUGH

Ingredients:
1 cup ground cinnamon
1 tsp of ginger
1 cup applesauce
1/4 cup white school glue (optional)

Add the cinnamon and ginger to the applesauce. You can also add glue for added thickness.
Store unused dough in a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap.

Three young girls kneading the gingerbread playdough.

38. GINGER BREAD PLAYDOUGH

 (KA tested-it’s wonderful and smells sooooo good!)
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 tbsp. grou
nd ginger
1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 cup water
Mix together well and knead until smooth.

Note: At first it seemed it may be too wet; however, after putting a bit of flour on the hands and kneading—it came together wonderfully. The longer the girls played with it…the better it got! (Images by Kidactivities.net) This would be nice any time from Autumn until Valentine’s Day!

_____________

39. COOKIE CLAY

This recipe is meant to be rolled out, cut with cookie cutters, and left to dry. Great for ornaments!
2 cups Salt
2/3 cups Water
1 cup Cornstarch
1/2 cup Cold water
Mix salt with water in saucepan.
Stir and boil.
Add cornstarch and cold water.
Keep heating if it does not get thick.
Roll out dough on board floured with cornstarch.
Dry and decorate ornaments.

  • Mix the dry ingredients.
  • Add spices a small amount at a time until the dough smells and looks like you want it too.
  • Mix water and oil together first and then add them to the dry ingredients and stir.
  • In a pot, cook the mixture for two to three minutes, stirring frequently. The dough will start to pull away from the sides of the pot and stick together.
  • When this happens, take the play dough out of the pan and knead the dough until it becomes soft and smooth.
  • Allow the dough to cool and then store it in an airtight container.

40. SWEET SMELLING GLOP 

Mix three parts flour, one part white glue, and one part thick shampoo. Add food coloring if desired. Makes a sweet-smelling mixture for modeling.

41. BASIC ART DOUGH

4 cups flour
1 cup iodized salt
1 3/4 cups warm water
1.  Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
2.  Knead the dough for 10 minutes.
3.  Use and model it as with any clay.
4.  Bake the sculpture at 300 degrees until hard.
5.  Let it air dry a few days.

42. BASIC ART DOUGH

BAKEDGood for making gifts!
1.  In a bowl, mix together 2 coups flour and ½ cup salt.
2.  Stir in ¾ cup water.
3.  Knead the mixture for 8 to 10 minutes, until it is smooth and pliable.
4.  If the dough is too dry, add a few drops water.
5.  If it is too sticky, add a small amount of flour.
6.  Have children mold the dough into shapes and press in decorations when desired. (See a couple ideas in gift thread)

Place the decorated shapes on a baking sheet and bake them at 300 degrees F for about 4 hours, or until hard.
If desired, when shapes are cool and dry, in an area away from the youth, spray the painted or unpainted shapes with a clear fixative.

43. PLAY CLAY

3/4 cp salt (175ml)
3/3 cup water (175 ml)
1 tsp. (ml) vegetable oil
2 cups (500 ml) flour
Large mixing bowl
1. Mix the salt, water, and vegetable oil in bowl.
2. Add the flour a little at a time–amd mix until it forms a ball.
3. Knead the ball of dough for about 10 minutes,
4. Store the clay in a sealed container in the refrigerator until ready to use.

When it is used–make items and place on a cookie sheet. Allow 48 hours for most items  to dry. They can then be painted with a light coat of acrylic paint. (This recipe is used in Halloween Craft category to make Boney Knockers)

 44. CLEAN MUD

Start by having children tear three rolls of toilet tissue into small pieces. Place the pieces into a plastic dish pan. Next, add 2 bars of Ivory soap, that you have shaved into small pieces. Finally, add 8 to 12 cups of warm water. Let children take turns playing with the mixture.

45. NO COOK COLD WATER PLAYDOUGH

4 cups flour
1 cup salt
2 Tbs. cooking oil
1 to 1 1/2 cups cold water
Food coloring
1.  Mix flour, salt, oil.
2.  Add food coloring to water.
3.  Gradually add water to flour mixture.
4.  Knead.
5.  Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.

 46. SALT PLAYDOUGH

One-cup salt
One-cup water
1/2 cup flour
1.  Mix ingredients and cook over medium heat.
2.  Remove from heat when mixtures looks thick and rubbery.
3.  As the mixture cools, slowly roll in flour until it cools into dough.

47. SOAPY DOUGH

Two cups flour
1/2 cup salt
Two tablespoons liquid tempera paint
One tablespoon liquid soap
1/2 cup water
1.  Mix all the dry ingredients in one bowl and then mix the liquid ingredients in another.
2.  Stir the two mixtures together and knead until pliable.

48. SHAMPOO DOUGH

3/4 cup flour
1/4 to 1/3 cup white glue
1/4 cup thick shampoo
1.  Mix ingredients in bowl; add more flour if needed for consistency.
2.  Roll, cut and model it as desired.
3.  Air dry it and then paint.
Warning: Because of the shampoo, this can be toxic if eaten.

49. EDIBLE CREAM CHEESE DOUGH

8 oz. package of cream cheese
1/2 cup non-fat dry milk
1 tablespoon honey
Crackers or bread slices

  • Combine cream cheese, milk and honey in a bowl and mix until well blended.
  • Mold sculptures on wax paper.
  • Unused portions must be stored in an airtight container and kept refrigerated!
  • Because cream cheese is perishable, use the expiration date on the cream cheese package as your guide for how long you can keep this play dough.

 Note: The shapes can then be placed on crackers or bread slices, decorated with celery or carrot slivers, raisins, dried fruit pieces, nuts, or seeds for a healthy snack…

50. EDIBLE CANDY PLAYDOUGH

Materials:
1/3 cup margarine
1/3 cup light corn syrup
1 pound box of powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Food coloring
1/4 tsp. salt

  • Mix all ingredients except powdered sugar.
  • When all is combined add powdered sugar.
  • Knead until smooth.
  • Play and eat!

DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN THAT ARE ALLERGIC TO GLUTEN? Here are two recipes that you can safely use with your children. Play Doh, the popular compound that is often purchased for children’s play, contains gluten— which makes it unsafe for children with celiac disease. This recipe is from the Celiac Sprue Association.

51. GLUTEN FREE PLAYDOUGH RECIPE

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup rice flour
    • 1/2 cup corn starch
    • 1/2 cup salt
    • 2 tsp cream of tarter
    • 1 cup water
    • 1 tsp cooking oil
    • Food coloring, if desired

PREPARATION: Mix ingredients. Cook and stir on low heat for 3 minutes or until mixture forms a ball. Cool completely before storing in a sealable plastic bag.

This is also safe for children with a gluten allergy… 

52. WHITE GOOP

Something fun to play with that’s messy but easy to clean up!
Ingredients:
1 part corn starch
2 parts water
Directions:
Mix ingredients together until smooth. Enjoy!
Suggestion:
Try to make a ball with the mixture. Note how it kind of keeps its shape as long as you are working with it, but as soon as you stop, it “melts” through your fingers.

53. MAKE PAPER PULP…AN ALTERNATIVE TO CLAY!

Put a cup of shredded newspaper into a blender.
Add 2 cups water.
BLEND WELL. Very well.
Strain the mixture so that it is mushy, but still very wet. (Adjust paper and water according to the amount you need.) Shannon Stewart, formerly of Stetson Hills School, Phoenix, AZ.

If you’d like to make PULP PAPER NECKLACES and ornaments visit the Craft Category! Directions are at the bottom of that page.

IDEAS TO MAKE BASIC PLAY DOUGH RECIPES “SPECIAL”…

FOR COLOR YOU CAN ADD…
• Food coloring
• Kool-Aid or
• Fruit-flavored Gelatin

TO ADD A “SCENT’…
• Lemon oil
• Peppermint oil
• Vanilla extract
• Gingerbread Scent: Ground Cinnamon & Ginger
• Kool-aid will also add a scent…

Add glitter for “SPARKLE”

TO MAKE BETTER PLAYDOUGH TIP:

Try substituting baby oil for vegetable oil in play dough recipes. The smell is wonderful and the play dough itself will not mold or get a rancid odor. It remains soft for a very long time.

WHEN MAKING THESE RECIPES PLEASE NOTE:

1. Food coloring and Kool-Aid is fun to use with these recipes; however, be aware that it can stain hands and clothes.

2. Do not put these substances down drain, they can cause havoc in the plumbing.

3. Wear gloves when touching Borax because some people are allergic to the powder. It’s also a good idea for children to wear safety glasses.

4. For recipes that call for alum…if you can not find in food-market, it can be purchased at a drug store.

Several pictures of kids playing with playdough and of things made of playdough like a dinosaur with text reading 53 easy homemade playdough recipes for kids. These are great for the classroom or at home. Hours of fun making and building.

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