Easy DIY Recipe for Children's Playdough
Discover a collection of easy, well-tested playdough recipes that will delight both children and adults alike. These recipes, based on trusted sources, offer clear step-by-step instructions and videos for effortless replication.
1. Classic Cooked Playdough (Soft, Long-lasting)
Ingredients: - 2 cups all-purpose flour - 1/2 cup fine table salt (can reduce slightly for softer dough) - 2 tbsp cream of tartar - 2 tbsp vegetable oil - 1 1/4 cups boiling water
Instructions: 1. Mix dry ingredients (flour, salt, cream of tartar) in a bowl. 2. Make a well in the center and add vegetable oil and boiling water. 3. Stir with a wooden spoon until it forms a dough. Adjust water or flour to get playdough texture. 4. Knead on a clean surface until smooth and uniform. 5. Divide into balls for coloring. Knead in edible plant-based powders or food coloring until fully incorporated.
Notes: This dough is soft, squishy, and lasts for months if stored properly. Great for adding scents/colors.
Video: Available on the Simply Living Well blog and Little Bins for Little Hands website
2. No-Cook Playdough Recipe (Quick & Easy)
Ingredients: Similar but no stove required; use very warm water instead.
Instructions: 1. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. 2. Add very warm water and oil. 3. Stir until dough forms, then knead until smooth.
Benefit: No stove needed, suitable for quick prep and safe kid involvement.
Video: Demonstrated on Little Bins for Little Hands
3. Cornstarch Playdough (Super Soft, 2 Ingredients)
Ingredients: - Cornstarch - Conditioner
Instructions: 1. Mix cornstarch and conditioner in a bowl until dough forms. 2. Adjust amounts to get desired texture.
Benefits: Easy, soft texture, minimal ingredients, great for sensory play.
Video: Available on Little Bins for Little Hands
4. Plant-Dyed Playdough (Natural Coloring)
Use the classic recipe above, then knead in plant-based edible powders (like beetroot powder, turmeric, spirulina, etc.) for natural colors.
This method avoids artificial dyes and is very simple to do at home.
Detailed recipe and photos here
5. DIY Cloud Dough (Very Soft and Squishy, 2 Ingredients)
Ingredients: - Flour - Oil (such as baby oil or vegetable oil)
Instructions: 1. Mix flour and oil until the texture is soft and moldable like clouds.
Benefits: Wonderful soft, squishy texture that kids love.
Video: Popular TikTok demonstrations show easy step-by-step how-to here
6. The BEST Homemade Playdough According to I Heart Naptime
Similar to classic recipe but with reduced salt for softness. Super soft, easy to cut with cookie cutters, lasts for months. Suitable for multiple kids due to batch size.
Instructions available with video tutorial on the blog
Summary Table of Recommended Recipes
| Recipe | Key Features | Ingredients | Cooking Required | Video Available | |-----------------------------|------------------------------|---------------------------------------|------------------|------------------| | Classic Cooked Playdough | Soft, lasts months | Flour, salt, cream of tartar, oil, water | Yes | Yes | | No-Cook Playdough | Quick, no stove | Similar to classic but warm water | No | Yes | | Cornstarch Playdough | Very soft, 2 ingredients | Cornstarch, conditioner | No | Yes | | Plant-Dyed Playdough | Natural colors | Classic + plant powders | Yes | Yes (photos) | | DIY Cloud Dough | Soft, squishy | Flour, oil | No | Yes (TikTok) | | I Heart Naptime Best Recipe | Super soft, low salt | Flour, less salt, oil, water | Yes | Yes |
Recommended Steps for Beginners
- Start with the classic cooked playdough recipe for best texture and durability.
- Add colors using safe food coloring or natural plant powders.
- Watch beginner-friendly videos from Little Bins for Little Hands or I Heart Naptime for visual guidance.
- Experiment with no-cook or 2-ingredient options for quicker or different textures.
This selection provides easy, well-tested recipes with clear instructions and accompanying videos, ensuring you can replicate homemade playdough easily at home. If you want, I can provide exact video links or further detail on any recipe step!
Enjoy these fun and engaging playdough recipes, and let your creativity soar!
- Incorporate these playdough creations into seasonal crafts for kids during holidays, enhancing their learning and enjoyment of art.
- Preschoolers will benefit from hands-on activities like playdough crafts as part of their developmental play.
- For added fun, create space-themed playdough designs using star-shaped cookie cutters or by molding planets and astronauts.
- Encourage kids' involvement in sensory play by inviting them to touch, smell, and mix various ingredients while making the playdough.
- Science-themed learning activities can be combined with playdough crafts, such as exploring the chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar in a separate demonstration.
- Consider integrating playdough crafts into a lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, relationships, pets, travel, cars, or shopping-themed party or event.
- Preschool classrooms can also utilize playdough as a tool for encouraging communication and social skills among kids as they work together on projects.
- You can find recipe customizations based on food-and-drink themes, like chocolate-scented or strawberry-flavored playdough, to complement your next themed party or baking session.
- Showcase your homemade playdough creations and share your experiences on social media, inspiring others to do the same.
- The versatile nature of playdough makes it a suitable craft for various ages, from young kids to adults, fostering a sense of connection and shared enjoyment.
- Include playdough crafts in your next home-and-garden party, or use it as a unique gift wrapping alternative for a personal touch.
- As the weather changes, adapt your playdough creations to reflect the seasons, such as autumn leaves or winter snowmen.
- Host a playdough party with friends and family, where everyone can participate in hands-on activities and collaborate on fun, creative projects.
