Hello Everyone;

Since we are on the topic of baking, one of our favourite activity to do in StrongStart is play dough.  Squish, smash, twist, pound, play dough has a wide array of learning benefits for children’s development.  Play dough is an open ended activity that enhances fine motor skills, promotes creativity and imagination, and social skills.  Manipulation of play dough also enhances eye-hand coordination.  Furthermore, it also has a calming effect.  I wonder what you and your child will discover while exploring with play dough.

Here is the recipe.  Hope you will have fun playing with it.

Marnie’ Play dough Recipe

1 cup of salt
2 cups of flour
2 heaping teaspoons of cream of tar tar or alum
2 generous tablespoons of oil
2 to 2 1/4 cups of boiling water
Food colouring

  • Put dry ingredients into bowl
  • add oil and boiling water and food colouring in another bowl
  • add water mixture to dry ingredients and mix with sturdy spoon until mixture forms into a ball.
  • knead while warm until smooth
  • Store in an airtight container at room temperature

Hint: The trick to this homemade play dough is the amount of water and the kneading of the warm dough.  Turn out the dough onto a flat surface and knead as you would when making bread.  If the dough continues to be sticky after kneading for a few minutes add a bit of flour and keep kneading until soft.