Playdough

Children find many ways to express all the creative, fantastical ideas flying around in their brains. Playdough is a moldable, clay-like substance that children use to sculpt creatures, food, and anything else on their minds. Play Doh, a division of Hasbro, manufactures small jars of the sculpting material in over 36 colors, including metallics and neons. The putty-like dough was first used during World War II as a wall cleaner, but now it is rarely used for that purpose. Unlike modeling clay, playdough cannot be easily dried so the sculptures can be kept. If left out for a couple days, the dough will dry out and may crack or crumble.

It is just as easy to make your own playdough as it is to go buy some at the store—and kids think it’s great fun. To make playdough, boil 2 cups of water, then mix in a glass bowl with 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil, 1/2 cup salt, and liquid food coloring to make desired color. Add 2 cups of flour and 2 Tbsp. cream of tartar and stir until mostly combined; wait a minute or two for the dough to cool and knead until fully incorporated and no lumps of flour remain. Once the dough fully cools, store in a sealed plastic bag or airtight container. For added fun, knead glitter into the dough—you can even make homemade glitter to match the color of the playdough. There are tool kits made by Play Doh like an ice cream shoppe or a dentist, but you can also find items around your home that are just as much fun. Cookie cutters, rolling pins, and anything with fun shapes or textures that can be transferred work really well.