Homemade Playtime Recipes

I have come across a few great recipes for making your own play dough (cooked play dough, microwave and a basic mix together one), baking clay (your child can create a sculpture then bake it like clay and paint it), finger paint and some fun 'goo'. My daughter loves playing with play dough, I hope your child gets as much enjoyment as she does!

I thought I would share them with everyone! They are cheap and very easy to make, and will provide lots of fun for your little one/s!

Stove cooked play dough

• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 cup flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 cup water
• Food colouring in your choice of colour

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan, warm slightly and stir until it forms a dough. This play dough lasts about 2 weeks in a plastic bag.

Microwave play dough

• 2 cups plain flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 2 cupswater
• 1 tablespoon oil
• Food colouring in your choice of colour

Combine ingredients, place in a large bowl and cover. Cook on medium high for around 4-5 minutes. Knead when cool.

Easy no cooking required play dough

• 2 cups plain flour
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• Food colouring in your choice of colour
• Water (as much as needed)

Combine oil and flour and mix well. Add water and food colouring. Continue to add water until you get a dough consistency. Store in an air tight container.

Baking Clay

• 2 cups plain flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 cup hot water

Mix flour and salt, then slowly stir in the hot water. Knead the dough on a flat surface for around 10 minutes. Once your child has finished making his/her masterpiece, bake in an oven at 150 degrees celsius for around an hour. When its cool, it can be painted.

Fingerpaint

• 1 cup cornflour
• 3 cups boiling water
• 3 tablespoons pure soap flakes
• food colouring in your choice

Mix cornflour with a little cold water to make a paste. Place the paste into a saucepan and add the boiling water, then add the soapflakes and stir over low heat until thick and well mixed together. If the mixture is too runny, add some more cornflour (which has been added to a little water). Divide mixture between 4 bowls and add a different food colouring to each bowl. Allow to cool. This paint can be used directly on a piece of paper with fingers or brush, and can also be played with on a table top (they can even press a piece of paper on top of their artwork so they can 'copy' it and keep it).

Goo

• 1 cup pure soap flakes
• 3 cups hot water

Mix soap flakes and hot water together in a bowl, stirring until the flakes dissolve. Leave the mixture to cool and set overnight. Beat in some food colouring with an egg beater (kids love doing this) . Put this mixture into a baby bath where your child can use his/her hands and feet. Apart from painting with it, your child can squish it, pour or whip it with an egg beater!

Shaving cream makes fun finger paint too!