Homemade Play Dough

The recipe is simple enough, and an extra bonus is I let Nicolas help me make it. If you have a kiddo that likes to help in the kitchen this is the perfect activity. After you make the play dough store it in a zip loc bag or a plastic container. It lasts for a long time even if you accidentally leave it out during the day.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup salt
• 2 tbsp baby oil
• 1 tbsp alum (find it in the seasoning section at your local grocery)
• food coloring

Mix the flour, salt, and alum together in a bowl.

Have your little helper step to the side while you do the next part. Add the boiling hot water and the baby oil to the mixture and stir it together in a bowl with a strong spoon. After I use a spoon to get it pretty well mixed together in the bowl, I dump the dough out of the bowl on to the counter and knead it with my hands.

The dough it still hot during this part so be careful! Knead the dough until it feels nice and smooth. When the temperature of the dough cools, allow your little helper to jump back in and help you finish the process.

Divide your dough into balls and add food coloring to each ball.

Special Tip: This part can get a little messy so make sure your little one has on an apron or clothes you don’t mind getting stained. Take your finger and press a well into each ball of dough. Add the food coloring to the well to keep it from spilling. Keep a magic eraser and cleaner with a little bleach on hand to remove food coloring stains on your counter. If the food coloring gets on your hands don’t worry. It comes off after washing your hands a few times.

Knead the dough thoroughly to get the food coloring evenly dispersed. This takes a little work, but the more you knead the dough the more the color will spread out evenly. Once the dough is colored, get your play dough tools out and play!