Necessary ingredients to make playdough right at home! Create any color you like with glitter and even fun scented playdoh can be made too!
Wondering what ingredients to make playdough you need? It is actually easier than you might think. Holidays coming up and you’d like a fun activity that is cheap to make, homemade playdoh is a great activity for kids of all ages. (affiliate links present, originally published 6/19)
Homemade Playdough Recipe
This one we made to be green with gold glitter for St.Patricks Day but with this easy playdough recipe below you can make it any color, texture, scented, or playdough with hidden treasures inside you want. If you are a Preschool teacher and want to make this in bulk for much less, your kids will love this for sure.
This is much cheaper than store bought for sure. Play doh can be expensive. Another plus is you can add drops of food color to make whatever you want. Here are the basic ingredients below so you can make a bunch of kid friendly play dough recipes with your kids. From there the possibilities are endless, and the glitter is totally optional, but a fun add in!!
Homemade Playdough Ingredients
We first made some homemade edible playdough which was fun, but each style has a different feel so if you’re throwing a playdough birthday party or just having fun on the weekends I would recommend making a few different ones!
- 2 ingredient edible playdough is great for Preschoolers
- Like I said, you can make homemade scented playdough which is really fun
- All others are listed on our kid friendly play dough recipes post
- Homemade play putty is fun to make for a change too
Ingredients to Make Playdough
You are going to want a large bowl to combine it all to make homemade play dough. If you add the food coloring, optional, you may want to have a glove on. It can discolor your skin and countertops so be careful with that.
- 1.5 c flour
- 1/2 c. salt
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp cream of tartar
- 2-3 drops green or other color of food coloring
- 1 c water
- glitter or any other fun add ins
Wax paper is an easy play area for kids that is cheap vs. laminated placemats.
Homemade Playdough
If you need playdough without cream of tartar you can use this recipe instead. This ingredient is the most common because it is a great binder, and cheap.
- In a large pot over medium heat combine flour, cream of tartar, salt, oil and water.
- Mix well with a whisk
- Add a few drops of gel food coloring if you choose and mix well
- Cook on medium-low heat stirring consistently
- Playdough will begin to thicken and form a thick ball of dough
- Pour your dough onto a surface to cool
- Once cooled knead it on a non stick cutting board – these work great as playdough mats
- If it is still sticky add a bit of extra flour and knead that in, very little at a time
- Add glitter if you’d like now
- Use small child safe knives and playdough tools to play with
- Enjoy!
It is a fun rainy day activity for kids that can be changed up according to the holiday or their favorite color. A tip to not get it to stick to hands as easily when you are first kneading it is to brush a bit of coconut oil on your palms and rub that in beforehand.
Variations of Homemade Playdough
Homemade playdough is a versatile and fun activity that children (and adults!) can enjoy. Not only is it easy to make, but it also allows for creativity and imagination to flourish. While the classic playdough recipe is always a hit, here are some delightful variations to add extra color, scent, or texture to your homemade playdough creations:
- Glitter Playdough just adds a touch of sparkle and magic to your ball by mixing in fine or chunky glitter. Choose colors that complement the glitter for a dazzling effect. This variation is perfect for creating princess castles, mermaid tails, or sparkling jewelry.
- If you want to show the different between slime and playdoh you can make glow in the dark slime for added fun at night.
- Scented Playdough we shared a link to above is a full on sensory play activity by infusing your balls with drops of essential oils or recipe flavorings for a scent.
- Add a few drops of essential oils, such as lavender, lemon, or peppermint, to your playdough recipe. The scents will engage the sense of smell, making the play experience even more enjoyable.
- Edible Playdough is great for younger children or those who can’t resist taking a nibble, try making it edible. You can use ingredients like peanut butter, honey, or marshmallow fluff to create a safe and tasty. Just make sure to avoid any potential allergens and supervise children while playing.
- Textured means adding different textures by adding various materials to your mixture. Try mixing in rice, sand, coffee grounds, or even small beads to create a unique sensory experience. The added texture will provide a new level of engagement and exploration during playtime.
- Neon Playdough can add lots of different vibrant neon colors. Add a few drops of neon food coloring to your dough recipe to create eye catching hues that are sure to inspire imaginative play. Neon is excellent for creating aliens, futuristic cities, or colorful creatures.
- Swirled Playdough ceates marbled or swirled effects by combining different colors of this. Roll two or more colors into long ropes, twist them together, and then knead the dough until the colors blend beautifully. The resulting swirled playdough is fantastic for making rainbow-themed creations or tie-dye patterns.
- Sparkle Salt Playdough makes it even more tactile by incorporating sparkle salt. Mix fine salt with a metallic or glittery finish into your dough recipe. The salt adds a subtle crunch and shimmer to the mix, making it perfect for sensory play and creating textured designs.
Remember, when making this from scratch, always follow a basic recipe that includes flour, salt, water, a binder and oil. From there, you can let your imagination run wild with these variations, adapting the recipe as needed. Homemade play dough is a fantastic way to engage in hands-on play, boost creativity, and spend quality time with loved ones. So gather your ingredients, get mixing, and let the fun begin!
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