Hi Grandmas
Who doesn’t love play time with their grandchild? Whether it’s playing dress up, having a tea party with your granddaughter or playing trucks in the dirt with your grandson – imagining, connecting and seeing the joy in their eyes is priceless for us, as grandmas, while making precious memories together!
My grandchildren love playing with playdough and yes, while it’s fun, it also brings back many fond memories of when my three children were younger.
There are many benefits of Playdough:
Enhances fine motor skill...
Improves pre-writing skills...
Creativity and imagination...
Calming effect...
Develops hand-eye coordination...
Social Skills...
Increases curiosity and knowledge...
And It's Fun!!!
Below is an easy playdough recipe that you can whip up in a couple of minutes. Most of these ingredients can be found in your pantry. Whether you make homemade playdough or buy ready made playdough is a personal preference. For me, it's easy to whip up and I like to know the ingredients that my grandchildren might put in their mouth while playing.
Playdough Recipe
3 cups flour
1 ½ cups salt
6 tsp cream of tartar
6 Tbsp vegetable oil
3 cups water
Food coloring – if desired
Mix all ingredients in a sauce pan until creamy smooth. Cook at medium heat, stirring constantly until dough forms.
Remove from heat, knead dough on cutting board. Playdough will keep in Ziploc bag or sealed tub (I like to use a recycled takeout tub) for about 6 months.
If you really want to get their fine motor skills going as well as a smell sensory activity, check out these fun springtime Playdough recipes.
2 cups water 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil 3-4 drops Wilton Icing Colors 5-6 drops lavender essential oil 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup salt 2 Tablespoons cream of tartar
Add the water, oil, purple food color and lavender essential oil to a Dutch oven or large saucepan. Whisk to combine.
Add the flour, salt, cream of tartar and mix well until all of the ingredients are wet and the flour lumps have disappeared.
Stir continuously over medium heat until a stiff ball of dough forms and you can no longer stir the dough easily (3-4 minutes).
Strawberry Cake Playdough
1 package strawberry cake mix
2 cups flour
1 ½ cups salt
6 Tbsp oil
6 tsp cream of tartar
3 cups water
Mix ingredients.
Cook over medium heat until a ball forms.
Remove from heat and knead.
**. If your grandchild leaves playdough out and it dries up, no worries. Just add some water to it, cover and let it stay overnight. Should be good as new!!
To go along with the playdough activity, you can use fun cookie cutters that you might also have in your pantry or I found this cute playdough activity set as well.
Enjoy exploring the world of playdough with your grandchild! I'm pretty sure it will bring back fond memories for you as well!
Xoxoxo
Gigi Susie
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