Homemade Play Dough

My son's preschool is a parent participation preschool.  Lots of great fun being involved - we get "duty days" in the classroom when we get to be the teacher's helper (I've always been stationed at the art table, which I just love, I do love to craft!).  Each year the preschool takes part in our town's annual "May Days Parade" (this parade has been going on forEVER) and the kids take part by riding their decorated bikes and handing out homemade play dough to all the kids watching the parade.  So, all the families in the preschool get to make play dough to hand out.  At first I was totally freaked out by it, some of the Moms had said it was a tough job, so in all honesty, one Mom and I considered having a "Make Play Dough, Drink Wine Night"...but then we thought it might get messy LOL.  Anyways, I hunkered down and just started to do it...and it turns out, it really isn't that hard at all! 

Here is the recipe:

Cooked Play Dough - My source: Teacher Bev, Rutland Parent Participation Preschool

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 teaspoons cream of tartar (we were advised to use the brand name over the bulk, bulk doesn't seem to work as well)
2 cups water (a Mom hinted to use hot water from the tap)
2 tablespoons oil (any kind of oil, except motor oil, of course!)
Food colouring

*Note - this is a double batch

You can prepare this recipe using a double boiler.  I don't have a double boiler so I improvised and used the suggestion from Teacher Bev of a large metal bowl over a boiling pot of water.  Here is how I made the play dough:

Preheat a pot of water.  Allow it to boil, then reduce the heat to medium, keeping the water  at a slow boil.


In a large metal bowl, combine the flour, salt and cream of tartar.

In a small bowl, combine the (hot, but not boiling) water, oil and food colouring.

Pour the liquids into the dry ingredients, stir to combine, until the mixture is smooth.

Put the metal bowl over the slow-boiling pot of water and cook, stirring constantly.  When the dough becomes a ball, remove from the heat and knead until the dough is smooth (I allowed the ball to cool slightly before I started kneading...ouch!).  Store in an airtight container or bags.

VERDICT:

I was surprised at how easy it was to make the play dough.  Maybe it's because I am cooking and/or baking all the time, I didn't find the process to be a big deal.  It's a nice dough, and nice to know what is in the dough, especially if you have a child who likes to eat play dough!  I need to work on my colours a little more, mine all turned out rather "pastelly" (is that a word?!) and not like the vibrant play dough colours.  Could have been the food colouring that I was using, but otherwise, it was all good!  I got my 5 batches done for the parade, and it didn't take much time at all.  My son got into the fun too, we had to portion and bag the play dough so he helped to seal the bags and then squished them flat for easier storage.  I think he had fun!

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