DIY: Make Your Own Play Dough!

So the little man has a tutorial for you guys today. He decided he wanted to tell a story with play dough like we used to before he could write. Unfortunately, he let his old dough dry out but had the brilliant idea for us to make more (two activities in one!) It is relatively simple, however with this method adult supervision is necessary, as there is a little brief stove work involved. Here's what you'll need:


• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 1/2 tbsp cream of tartar (optional)
• 2 cups water
• 2 tbsp veg oil
• Food coloring

Instructions:
1. Mix dry ingredients. The tartar is optional. It is supposed to increase the stretch of the dough but I find it works just as well without it. At least, my four year old thinks so.

2. On low heat, heat water and oil. Water doesn't need to be a full boil, just warm.

3. Stir in flour-salt mix. Stir continuously.
4. Once the mix begins to separate from the sides of the pot, remove from heat. It should look like dough. You can also test with your finger: touch the dough then touch your two fingers together, if it's sticky, continue stirring.

5. Allow to cool on wax paper for about 10 minutes or until its cool enough to touch.
6. Knead dough or roll with a rolling pin.

7. Roll up the flattened dough into an elongated circle.

8. Use a spatula to cut into an even number of sections(we decided on four).
9. Roll each section into a ball.

10. Poke a hole in the center of the ball with your finger.

11. Add in drops of food coloring, as many as you need for your desired color.

12. Knead the color into the dough. And voila! Play dough!

TIP: Be sure to store in a container with a lid or a resealable plastic bag as prolonged air exposure will eventually dry out the dough. Other than that it should be fine to last you for a good while! And warn the kiddies not to eat it. Although it's nontoxic it does have a WHOLE CUP of salt! Can't be tasty :-(

By the way, William's story was about an explorer who found dinosaur footprints and started to explore a forest. Along the trail, he came across an egg of an unhatched dinosaur which he helped develop and it led him to a secret treasure (X marks the spot). Pretty cool, huh?


Prima