My kids have always LOVED making their own playdough. When I need to get some work done, it works great for me to spend about 15 minutes with them making the dough. They will then play with it for a couple hours while I sit near them and work. The kids love the feel of the warm playdough and are intrigued by the colors they can make by adding food coloring.

Homemade playdough is not only great at increasing their fine motor muscles, but it teaches them about mixing colors and making light or dark shades of colors.

Here is the recipe that I use with my kids. This recipe is non-toxic and easy to clean up:

    1 cup flour
    2 tsp cream of tartar
    1/2 cup salt
    1 cup water
    1 Tbsp vegetable oil
    food coloring (a lot)

Mix dry ingredients. In saucepan, slowly stir liquids (except food coloring) into dry ingredients. Cook 3 minutes over medium heat until it pulls away from pan. You can add the food coloring at the same time as the liquids if your children are younger, but my kids find it much more fun to add the food coloring after the playdough is made. I put the dough onto a large plate or piece of wax paper, so the food coloring won’t make a mess with the counter (although food coloring does wash off fairly easily). Let the dough cool a little. Add a few drops of food coloring and then fold the coloring into the dough, so it won’t get all over their little hands. Then let the kids knead the dough until the food coloring is all mixed in. Experiment with colors and how many drops you need to make a dark shade.

This recipe makes at least enough to split into three for three children (that is how many I have). Make sure to store in ziplock bags or sealed plastic containers.

Have fun!