Posted on 12/05/2016
As the temps get lower and the days get shorter, kids need more indoor sensory activities. One of the options you probably remember from your own childhood can take on a new shape for your own kids. First we need to think outside the package: Making your own soft modeling dough can be just as much fun as playing with it! And you don’t have to have a lot of ingredients or even a lot of cooking skills. In fact, making nontoxic "dough" for kids to mold and play with is easier than making homemade cookies or cupcakes — and it doesn’t have to include the extra calories!
Experience Is Everything
Kids love to be able to get involved in the kitchen! If your kids are like most, though, you may struggle to get them involved in making actual meals. For modeling dough, though, they don’t need to have clean hands or measure ingredients perfectly. Because it doesn’t really matter how it looks or tastes, modeling dough offers the perfect recipe for getting your kids involved in the kitchen. At the same time, kids can learn some of the same skills they’ll need to follow other recipes — skills like measuring, combining, and evaluating the need to add extra ingredients, like more flour if it’s sticky or oil if it’s too dry. If your children are old enough, you can also practice doubling or tripling the recipe. After making the modeling dough, kneading the fresh warm dough provides a soothing sensory experience for both kids and grownups, alike!
Options for Everyone
Before you settle in for a modeling-compound-making session, you’ll want to make sure you have the ingredients on hand:
• 1 cup of flour
• 1/4 cup of salt
• 1 teaspoon of Cream of Tartar
• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup of water
• Food coloring and/or fragrance
Combine the above-listed ingredients and stir in a pot over medium heat; be sure to stir until a dough forms. Remove from the heat and let the mixture cool until it’s safe to touch. For a combination of colorful and fruity fragrance, you can try using 2 packets of Kool-Aid mix per batch. (While this recipe isn’t technically edible, in its current form it is nontoxic.) You can add other ingredients, too, like glitter for this space-themed dough. Be aware of possible allergens, though, such as cinnamon and some artificial dyes and fragrances.
Additions for Extensions
In addition to the modeling dough itself, you’ll want to have a few other items on hand. The most important one may be zip-top bags for storage. You don’t need commercially produced accessories; simple items from your kitchen or around your house will work just fine. A rolling pin, dull knife or spreader, drinking straws, and cookie cutters can provide plenty of play options. If you do wish to purchase or make special modeling dough tools, check out these possibilities:
• Melissa and Doug products
• DIY texture tools
• Printable mats like these
Continue reading with Part 2.
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