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I’m always on the lookout for fun and creative activities to engage my kids when we’re at home for an afternoon. One of our favorite projects to do together is making homemade playdough. Not only is it a fun sensory experience for the kids, but it also lets us enjoy the process of crafting something together.
(Another bonus: If my kids eat any of our homemade natural playdough, I know they’ll be ok!)
The nicest part about making our own DIY natural playdough is that we can use all non-toxic ingredients, so I know it’s totally safe for my kiddos to play with. It’s also easy to whip up a batch right in our own kitchen.
How to Make Natural Playdough at Home
Here’s how to make your own natural playdough at home:
1. Gather Your Natural Playdough Ingredients
Start by buying the ingredients you’ll need. The basic recipe calls for:
- Flour
- Salt
- Cream of tartar
- Water
- Vegetable oil
To add fun colors and scent to the playdough, I like to use natural ingredients. Turmeric works for yellow, beetroot powder is great for a cheerful pink color, and cocoa powder works well for brown playdough. You can get creative with different colors and scents depending on what you have in your spice cabinet.
PSA: Be careful not to reach for the cayenne pepper for red! That stuff can really burn if it gets in anyone’s eyes. Instead, go for a natural plant-based food coloring instead, which uses ingredients like radish to make a bold red color.
2. Mix and Knead
Once you have your ingredients ready (see below for specific amounts), it’s time to mix them together. We combine the dry ingredients first in a saucepan, then add the water and vegetable oil. We cook the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly until it forms a thick dough. Be careful with the kids during this part in the process, as the dough gets very hot and can burn eager little hands.
When it’s had a chance to cool, we divide the dough into smaller portions and add our natural colors. Kneading the dough until it’s smooth and pliable is my kids’ favorite part of the process — they love getting their hands messy and watching the colors come to life!
3. Play and Explore
Once our natural playdough is ready, it’s time to play. We break out our collection of cookie cutters, rolling pins, and other fun tools, and let our imaginations run wild.
Or really, they let their imaginations run wild, and it’s mom’s turn to sit back and relax with a cup of coffee or glass of Chardonnay. Hey, we worked hard! We deserve it.
4. Storage of DIY Natural Playdough
Since our playdough is made from natural ingredients, you don’t have to worry about any harmful chemicals lingering on your kids’ hands or toys.
We store our homemade playdough in freezer bags or food storage containers to keep it fresh for future play sessions, and it usually lasts for several weeks and multiple play sessions.
DIY All Natural Playdough Recipe
Here’s a simple recipe for DIY natural playdough, including step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup salt
- 4 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (you can alternatively use coconut oil or olive oil)
- 2 cups warm water
- Natural food dye drops or use your own coloring agents if you have them(choose one):
- For red: 2-3 teaspoons beetroot powder
- For yellow: 2-3 teaspoons turmeric powder
- For green: 2-3 teaspoons spirulina powder
- For blue: 2-3 teaspoons blue spirulina powder
- For purple: 2-3 teaspoons purple sweet potato powder
- For brown: 2-3 teaspoons cocoa powder
Instructions:
- Combine ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and cream of tartar. Mix well to ensure the dry ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Heat up oil and water: In a separate saucepan, combine the water and vegetable oil. Heat the mixture over medium heat until it starts to simmer.
- Mix it all together: Once the water-oil mixture is simmering, gradually add it to the dry ingredients in the mixing bowl, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon or spatula.
- Keep stirring and testing: Continue stirring until a thick dough forms. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour. If it’s too dry, add a little more water.
- Divide it up: Once the dough is formed, divide it into equal portions, depending on how many colors you’d like to make. Create a small well in the center of each portion.
- Get creative with colors: Add your chosen natural coloring agent (drops or powder) to each portion of dough. Start with a small amount and knead it into the dough until the desired color is achieved. Add more coloring agent as needed. This part can be really fun for the kids to help with!
- Time to play: Once you’ve colored all the dough portions, your natural playdough is ready to use! Store each color in an airtight container when not in use to keep it fresh. And don’t forget the fun and eco-friendly toys to help them make their creations come alive.
Natural DIY Playdough for the Win
Making natural playdough with my kids has become a cherished activity in our household. It’s a fun and educational activity that allows us to spend quality time together.
For more healthy fun with your kids, check out my guides to the best non-toxic toys and bath toys!
