How To Make Playdough
Playdough is not just for kids. It’s about how to make playdough for kids today. I have made this recipe for over 50 years for my daughters and my grandkids. I talked yesterday about making playdough being a vintage skill, pioneer skill, or just one more plain skill to teach the next generation.
How To Make Playdough
This is easy and frugal playdough that all kids love to make. This recipe is not gluten-free and you do not have to add food coloring or flavors, they are optional. I bet you can picture the kids molding playdough every day of the week and all you have to do is store the playdough in an airtight container to keep it soft and pliable.
Baggies or pint jars work great! You can also make this playdough for birthday gifts and put different colors in pint mason jars placed in cellophane bags with a ribbon. Making homemade gifts is something I love doing!
I think anytime we can have our kids and grandkids interacting with each other rather than an electronic in their hands it’s a win-win situation! I have to admit, my grandkids teach me how to use my cell phone and several things on the computer.
How To Make Playdough
- 4 Cups Flour
- 1 Cup Salt
- 2 Tablespoons Alum (spice aisle at grocery stores)
- 2 Cups Water
- 2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
- 1-4 Packages Dry Unsweetened Drink Mix (color and fragrance)
- 1-2 Bottles Food Coloring (optional)
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Mix all the ingredients (no cooking required) in a mixer (I use my KitchenAid or my Bosch). Knead like you would your bread and store in plastic bags or airtight jars. You can add more food coloring if the dry unsweetened drink mixes don’t give you the color you want. I like my play dough “bright” in color so I sometimes need additional food coloring.
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I pull out chunks of the dough and put them in separate bowls and add the food coloring to the dough in the mixer. I keep adding coloring until I achieve the color I like. You do not have to use any unsweetened drink mixes….the kids think it’s really awesome if the play dough has a little grape, pink lemonade, lime or fruit punch fragrance. It’s optional, just so you know.
This is a great recipe to have on hand because you can make some playdough for your family today for fun, or for your family after a disaster. Have fun and let the kids help you make the playdough!
Final Word
Here’s the deal we will need several ways to keep children busy after a disaster or unforeseen emergency. If you have these simple supplies in your pantry you can make playdough anytime. Plus you can teach others how to make playdough! It’s a win-win for everyone.
This will be a fun project next time the grandkids are here! W e have been making “slime”, and it was a huge hit.
Thanks for the recipe, my grands love play dough. We had another recipe but it it never set. What is alum and where would I find it? Thank you for all you information, it has made me more aware of proper storage of food (had to throw out some cans I forgot).
Hi Mildred, Alum is a spice, so go to your local grocery store and it will be in the baking aisle. I live in a very small town so I ended up going to three stores before I found it. My daughter teaches pre-school and used this recipe all the time. We have all had to throw out food, darn it! You are not alone. Hugs, Linda