Cooked Play-dough Recipe

After many years of making play-dough, first as a teacher, then as a mum… I got better and better. Now I can make play-dough in less that 5 minutes. The recipe is actually very easy and keeps for weeks if you look after.

I’ll forever remember that smell of cooked play-dough from my childhood… my mother’s recipe was not an easy one however. I discovered this later, in the years leading into my profession as a teacher in New Zealand. I’ll never forget the first time I tried cooking her play-dough recipe and ended up with a nightmare of a sticky mess!

The best thing about this cooked play-dough recipe is that it doesn’t go sticky. It’s not oily or not dry. So often teachers make simple mistakes when making play-dough and it ultimately ruins the child’s play experience. Dry, crumbly, oily play-dough… I’ve seen it all.

There is also absolutely no need to buy play-dough. I find that the brought stuff dries out so quickly! The home-made version is cheap to make, is super versatile and provides way more opportunities for children to explore.

I wonder how many times have you caught yourself saying “don’t mix the play-dough colours together!” Well when you know how to make it like I do, fast and cheap… then mixing colours won’t matter. Just yesterday I made a new batch of play-dough and my kids have already squished them together to create a beautiful shade of poo brown. Oh well… I’ll just make another next week.

The Many Benefits of Play-dough

I tell you now that if you put a freshly cooked batch of dough out for a two year old they will find many ways to play with it. They won’t need an adult to show them what or how to do it. Their learning is intrinsic, and all you have to do is sit back watch and listen.

Likewise, if you put out a batch of play-dough for a four year old, seven year old or twenty something year old. It is the kind of medium that keep the young and old busy… for ages.

The learning –

• Encourages movement of those little hand muscles (great for pre-writing)
• Imaginative play – the joy of creating things and role-play
• Moulding and shaping skills and techniques – the big kids love this stuff
• Learning about mixing colours – explore the creation of primary and secondary colours
• Sense of smell – keep it white and add herbs or essential oils
• Play-dough disco is fun for young children and I won’t lie, I’ve seen adults get their disco on!
• Counting, pattern making and measurement
• And on….

This week we used play-dough in our homeschool maths classes. They counted out play-dough balls of all colours to add their 10 square totals. Subsequently my girls found a renewed interest in addition.

(As a side note… we have been using the 10 square technique for counting which I stumbled across on the Schooling from Home Australia Facebook Group. This group has been very helpful for new ideas and support in terms of teaching my children at home.)

Now I know just really want the recipe. So here it is…

The Best Playdough Recipe Ever!

What you’ll need –

• 2 Cups of flour
• 1/2 Cup of salt
• 2 Tablespoons cream of tartar
• 3 Tablespoons oil
• 2 Cups of boiling water
• Food colour of choice
• Mix-in of choice – essential oil, fresh rosemary, glitter, cinnamon

The method –

Start by mixing the flour, salt and cream of tartar together in a large bowl. When combined, make a small well in the centre of the dry ingredients. Add the oil to this well, but don’t mix yet. Boil your water now.

The trick to perfect soft play-dough is to add the boiling water at it’s hottest point. The heat of the water cooks the play-dough without actually having to cook it over a pot.

Now that the jug has just boiled, pour in one cup of boiling water into the well of oil and stir. Get the boiled water roughly mixed through the flour and see it start to cook in front of your eyes. Now add the second cup of water and stir again. It may look like it is going to be wet and sticky but with a bit of stirring that flour is cooking and coming together nicely.

When it has formed a ball, tip it onto a table or bench with a little flour if needed. Kneed it for a few minutes until it becomes super soft. Then add the colours or mix-ins as you like. Hey presto… soft play-dough!

To store, keep it in an air tight container. In warmer temperatures put the container in the fridge to keep the play-dough fresher for longer.

I have been making play-dough for years. And I promise, this is the best cooked play-dough recipe you’ll find. So easy, and so soft… enjoy! Share your photos to Instagram and tag #myfreerangefamily with your kids play-dough creations.

Or check out this post on other ways you might like to get your kids involved in the kitchen.