Playdough - bought or homemade?

[Chimps Childminding]

I only have 1 mindee today (2 1/2) and as the weather is lousy we have made Father's Day card, done colouring and now she is playing with the playdough (dons't come out often in my house ) Those of you that use it regularly, do you make your own or buy it? some of what I had had gone crumbly and as she is busy mixing the colours up I wondered if I was better making it rather than buying it?

Suggestions and tried and tested recipie would be great thanks

[BucksCM]

I've always made my own, then the ocd in my doesn't have to worry about it getting mixed up!!

1 cup of flour
1/2 cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup water
food colouring
combine all the ingredients in a sauce pan(non stick if poss!)Heat gently and keep stirring with a wooden spoon. You'll know when to take off the heat...it starts to go in to one big lump! Leave to cool a liitle before kneeding until nice and smooth.

Does last a long time in an airtight container.

[loocyloo]

i always used to make it, and then i had a mindee who would eat it !!! constantly! but i discovered she wouldn't eat bought playdough! i bought a huge job lot, and have just about run out 2 yrs later!!!

i use the method where you mix it on the hob, although i am told there is a very good microwave recipe! just googled and found a whole website of playdough recipes!

http://www.playdoughrecipe.com/micro...ydough-recipe/

i also made cloud dough the other week ...

7 cups flour
1 cup vegetable oil or baby oil (i'm going to try a drop of lavender oil)
as much glitter as you wish!
Mix it all together until the oil is evenly dispersed throughout the flour. Use your hands. ( we didn't, we used a spoon & fork! )

have fun!

i do find that homemade playdough is easier to work with and doesn't go as crumbly!

[Maza]

I always make my own - I love it! The recipe above is a good one for just one child. They can make it with you. x

[Daisy1956]

I make my own, but if it is on offer at supermarket I buy it especially colours that I don't usually make.

[funemnx]

I make my own - it lasts ages and it's cheap. Only one colour at a time though, can't cope with it being mixed!

[Chimps Childminding]

I make my own - it lasts ages and it's cheap. Only one colour at a time though, can't cope with it being mixed!

Me neither - I ws freaking as lo was mixing the colours up this morning

[jumping j]

I make my own too, can't cope with lo's mixing the colours so I just make one colour at a time.

My after schoolies help me make it.

I use;
1 cup flour
1 cup salt
1 cup boiling water
2 tb sp oil
1 tea sp creme tartar
food colouring and glitter

I mix everything together then add the water gradually, don't always need it all when using food colouring
I made some in november and it's still going, I keep it in an air tight tupperware container.

[Dragonfly]

I made Red, White and Blue for the jubilee (playdough) I had to stop myself saying 'don't mix them up' of course that is what the children are going to do so annoying though.Normally I make one colour at a time.

[Chimps Childminding]

Thanks all, might have a go at making my own - even the after schoolie enjoyed playing with it tonight (he's only usually into "boy" things that involve fighting, running about etc) but I definately can't cope with the colour mixing so will make one colour at a time!!!

[miffy]

I make my own - its cheap and usually keeps for a few weeks.

Miffy xx

[SandCastles]

I have never made any before and read this thread with interest.
I opened the link (thanks loocyloo) and now can't wait to go shopping for the ingredients.
Do you have your own PlayDoh pan and spoon? or use your normal cooking pans? as I was thinking of trying the hob way first before i microwave the ingredients.

[sonia ann]

I don't microwave or heat on the hob, makes the bowls and pans too messy, I just add boiling water it works perfectly and is very therapeutic to knead it all together when warm..............just remember to r/a when adding the boiling water

it is also very quick.........

[Fiona79]

I usually buy but after reading this thread I think I'm going to make next time with my mindee's

[SYabs]

I always make my own and it lasts for ages, you can make sensory ones adding lentils etc. I use this recipe-

1/2 cup of Salt
1 cup of Flour
1tbsp of Oil
1tbsp Cream of Tartar
1 cup Boiling Water
Few drops of colouring
Few drops of flavouring.

This is a non cook recipe, so just bung all the ingredients in a bowl and add the water and oil last.

I also bought some straws and plastic safety scissors for the children to use with the play dough. The scissors are great helping them learn the action.