Colorful Homemade Playdough

Create your own soft, squishy, and colorful playdough using simple kitchen ingredients. This sensory activity allows kids to explore textures and colors while practicing their mixing skills.

Tools

• large mixing bowl
• mixing spoon
• pot (if cooking method is used)
• airtight storage containers

Materials

• all-purpose flour (2 cups)
• salt (1 cup)
• cream of tartar (2 tbsp)
• water (1.5 cups)
• vegetable oil (2 tbsp)
• food coloring (3-5 drops per batch)

Safety

• Adult supervision required when using the stove or handling hot liquids.
• Wash hands before and after playing.
• Not for consumption; keep away from small children who might try to eat it.
• Adult supervision required for hot materials. Burn risk.
• Protect work surface. Materials may stain clothing.
• Adult supervision required for children under 8.

Steps

1. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of salt, and 2 tbsp of cream of tartar until well combined.
2. Add 1.5 cups of water and 2 tbsp of vegetable oil to the dry mixture.
3. Stir the ingredients together with a spoon until a thick dough forms.
4. If using a stovetop method, pour the mixture into a pot over medium heat and stir constantly for 2-3 minutes until the dough pulls away from the sides of the pot.
5. Remove the dough from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes until it is safe to touch.
6. Divide the dough into smaller portions and add 3-5 drops of food coloring to each portion.
7. Knead the dough with your hands, folding and squeezing it until the color is evenly distributed and the texture is smooth.
8. Store the finished playdough in airtight containers to keep it soft for future use.