Quick Tip: Homemade Play Dough

Play dough is one of our favorite things and homemade play dough is usually what we use. As a reminder, here's how to make it:

• In one bowl, mix 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, and 2 teaspoons cream of tartar.
• In other bowl, mix 1 tablespoon cooking oil and 1 cup water. (If you want colored play dough, add several drops of food color, too.)
• Combine dry mixture and wet mixture. Stir thoroughly.
• Pour mixture into stick-resistant pan. Stir constantly over low heat until dough forms and pulls away from pan (about 3 minutes).
• Knead dough until smooth. (Watch it! It will stay very warm.) Usually I knead on a piece of waxed paper or a plastic cutting board.
• Cool the dough and store in airtight container or bag.

Other ideas:

Make it with the kids. Take an electric skillet and ingredients to the classroom.

Create surprise play dough. Make white play dough. Form into small balls. Make a hole in each ball and add a few drops of food color; seal the hole. Give dough to kids to knead and watch the dough turn from white to a color.

Enjoy fall play dough. Use red and yellow food color to make orange dough. Add 2-3 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice to the dry ingredients to give your play dough a fall scent.