How to Make Playdough

If there is one thing that everyone always asks me, it is 'How do you make your Playdough?'. And of course, my answer is always 'It is so easy!' !!

Yes, playdough is readily available from supermarkets and toy shops, but bother when you can make some yourself. It only takes 5 minutes to whip up and costs mere pennies. So here is how you can make your own batch of perfect playdough.

You Will Need:

1 Cup of Plain Flour
1 Cup of Warm Water
1/4 Cup of Salt
1 Tsp Oil
2 Tsp Cream of Tartar

All you need to do is pop all the ingredients in a medium saucepan and stir until combined. It should be a wet gloopy consistency. Then turn on the hob to a moderate heat and continue stirring gently. After 2-3 minutes, the mixture should begin to thicken. Once the mixture has lost all of its water and has come together you can take it off the heat and tip it out onto a surface.
Leave the playdough for a minute or two to cool (otherwise you will burn your hands!) and then you can begin to knead the dough to bring it together. This is where you can add your colouring.
Any food colouring will do the job, gels tend to be better than liquids but it doesn't really matter. Flatten the dough slightly and press your finger gently to make a slight well, then put the colouring in (a little at a time is advisable!) and then fold it all over and begin to knead. That way your hands wont turn orange or green ;)

Playdough is such great fun as it really sparks the imagination, as well as encouraging motor skills. I think I first made playdough for Mr Bee when he was a little over a year. Armed with cookie cutters and a butter knife, he explored the textures and practiced cutting. Now, he has a branded toy which he loves to play with, creating new textures and shapes with the moulds.

When you are done, just store in an airtight container and it will last for ages!