Playdough ideas

[Linda/NE]

At the end of March an Early Childhood group is sponsoring a Kid's fair. They asked businesses and organizations to have a booth with activities for children. (For example they suggested grocery stores setting up a mini grocery store). This is a free booth. We can have a banner that identifies our business and can hand out flyers or brochures but can't actually sell anything at the fair.

I signed up for a booth. (I haven't heard anything back so I'm hoping I got in.)

What I put down for was a Playdough Activity table. My plan is to have a variety of toys to use with playdough (cookie cutters, playdough machine) as well as household items that could be used as well (paper towel rolls, potato masher, etc). I plan to have different kinds of playdough available for the kids to play with and send with each child a recipe book of different kinds of playdough (kool-aid, cooked, microwaved, etc.)

So, does this sound like a good plan or do you have any other ideas how I can make this fun (this will be great FREE advertising for my preschool).

Any good, unusual playdough recipes to pass along? Thanks!!

Oh yes, another playdough question--most all recipes call for salt. Has anyone ever tried using sugar? If does it work? I've been tempted to try it but just haven't taken the time to yet.

[Cathy]

Dd3 made playdough for my class last year. I couldn't figure out why it came out so runny and sticky. She made a replacement batch and I saw her using sugar instead of salt. It's definitely doesn't work!!
I love playdough. I'll think of some things for you.
Have you tried goop? (Cornstarch and water--I love to squeeze it and let it drip through my fingers.) My classes had a wonderful time with it. And while it looks like a total mess, it just rinses off (hands, hair, clothes) or sweeps up when dry. It's just too easy to be that much fun!

[vea29]

Originally posted by Cathy

Have you tried goop? (Cornstarch and water--I love to squeeze it and let it drip through my fingers.) My classes had a wonderful time with it. And while it looks like a total mess, it just rinses off (hands, hair, clothes) or sweeps up when dry. It's just too easy to be that much fun!

I love goop...we used to make it all the time at the center....the kids love to stretch it all around the room. And your right it was very easy to clean up. LOL

We used to guve them little rubber dinosaurs and things...and they used to pretend they were getting sucked up by the lava.

[Marla]

Originally posted by Cathy


Have you tried goop? (Cornstarch and water--I love to squeeze it and let it drip through my fingers.) My classes had a wonderful time with it. And while it looks like a total mess, it just rinses off (hands, hair, clothes) or sweeps up when dry. It's just too easy to be that much fun!

I love goop too....you can mix it so it is various consistencies. It's also fun to add a little food colouring into the mixture, to make a marbelized effect.

[KarlaB]

Other playdough ideas:
~ Add glitter to the playdough
~ let the kids use plastic animals (dinosaurs) with the playdough

I haven't made this one, but they have made it in ds's preschool class. It smells so yummy!
Pumpkin Pie Playdough
2 c flour
1 c salt
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp ginger
3 TB cinnamon (or more)
2 c water
2 tsp oil Drop or 2 of orange food coloring

Glue Dough
1 cup flour
1/2 cup white glue
1 cup cornstarch
Bowl and water
Mix flour, cornstarch and glue. Add water as needed. Knead until workable.

I have a few more recipes from our early childhood gals if you want them. A few are for dough that you can dry and then paint, a few for slime using Borax, one for sidewalk chalk, puffy paint, finger paint, homemade stickers, and coffee sand.

[Linda/NE]

Thanks for the ideas!

Would the Goop be too messy for this though? We will have booths and we won't have close access to the bathrooms.
I've never used it before.

[Lynda-WA]

DS's K class had their names laminated on strips. Then they would use playdough to create the letters to match the name. You could use common words like cat and dog. Maybe even have a picture of the item to go with on the laminated sheet.

When we went to K orientation, the daycare on school grounds gave out little baggies of play-do with their info on a tag. I like your idea of a recipe booklet better. Parents are more likely to save that then the tag from the play-do. I know I would and I've got tons of recipes.

Some other tools for creations - garlic press (crafters use one to make hair for clay items), melon baller, craft sticks, beads (for eyes just don't anticipate re-using the beads as beads since the holes will plug.)

Do you have a wherehouse store like Sam's or Costco? Salt is fairly cheap there.

Love Goop, but I myself wouldn't use it at the play-do table. My reason is because kids would want to scoop it over to the other stuff and try running it through the playdo machine. I'd do that one with your own DC kids. Lots of fun. you could include the recipe though?

[heidi_round]

To your usual playdough mix you could add glitter to give it a different look. it is also very interesting for the children to look at

[heavenly]

I know this is an old thread, but thought I'd share my play
dough recipes anyways

PeanutButter Play dough

1/2 C peanut butter
1/2 C honey
1 C powdered milk

Just throw it all together and mush it up with your hands until its fairly smooth. The oils from the peanut butter will keep it from sticking to the table and the kids' hands.



"Play Dough"
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup water
Mix well until it forms a ball. Knead add food coloring if desired.
If sticky add some flour and if to dry add a small amount of water.

Play dough 2
1 cup flour
1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons cream of tarter
1 teaspoon oil
1/4 cup salt
food coloring

Mix all ingredients (add food coloring last). Stir over medium heat until smooth. Remove from pan, let cool slightly, and knead until blended and smooth. Store in a plastic bag or airtight container when cooled.

Kool-aid Dough

Flour 3cups
Salt 1 1/2 cups
Water 3 cups
Vegetable Oil 2TB.
Cream of tartar 1TB.
unsweetened "Kool-Aid" 1pkg.

Mix ALL of the ingredients in a large saucepan.
Cook over medium low heat, until the dough comes away
from the edges of the pan and it becomes difficult to move the spoon. Remove from heat.
Cool until it can be handled.
Place on counter or wax paper knead 3-4 times.
Store in an air tight container.

Oatmeal Playdough

Mix and knead:

2 cups smooth peanut butter
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups powdered milk
2/3 cups Honey

Chocolate Playdough

You'll need:

10 ounces semi-sweet chocolate coarsely chopped
1/3 cup light corn syrup
Melt the chocolate in a microwave for 1 minute (stirring occasionally) or until it becomes smooth and creamy. If you don't have a microwave, place the chocolate in a bowl over another bowl that contains hot, but not boiling, water.

Once the chocolate has melted, add the corn syrup and blend.

Pour the mixture onto a waxed paper sheet and spread the chocolate with your fingers until it's about 1/2 inch thick. Cover loosely with waxed paper and let it stiffen for at least a couple hours or overnight.

The chocolate will become very pliable.

Candy Playdough

You'll need:

1/3 cup margarine
1/3 cup light corn syrup
1 pound box of powdered sugar
1tsp vanilla extract
Food coloring
1/4 tsp salt
Mix all other ingredients then add powdered sugar. Knead until smooth,
then sculpt and eat.

[Beffers]

Great recipes, ladies. I'm anxious to try some of these out. I run a daycare at home and with the cold, rainy, wet weather we've been having....I need some new fun inside ideas!!