I woke up this morning really wanting to make some Autumn play dough (as you do). It feels like a long time since we had a fresh batch in and, as it is half term, D is around to actually do the parenting. Therefore, I was able to spend the best part of three hours (yes, three hours) in the kitchen, ignoring my children and creating my masterpieces; how people do this sort of thing without another adult present is beyond me! At the start I let E help me weigh out the ingredients and stir, but once the boiling water and food colouring needed adding I locked myself away in the kitchen so as not to be disturbed!
My standard go-to play dough recipe is that by Anna at The Imagination Tree. The resulting play dough has the best texture of any others I have ever made, and it really does last for up to six months in a sealed container (unless you add perishable ingredients, as I often do).
When I started out today I knew that I wanted to make some orange Halloween-themed dough, but as I went along I decided to expand slightly and make a variety of Autumn colours, as well as making them scented too. You may be wondering what on earth I was thinking, but the results were quite impressive.
I followed the recipe without adding food colouring to the boiling water. Once the dough was ready, I divided it into four pieces and kneaded the required food colouring (and added extras) until the colour (and scent) was even and vibrant, and the texture was just right.
I coloured the dough orange, red and yellow, by using food colouring (this made the dough a little sticky so it had to be balanced by adding a little extra flour), and brown, by using chocolate powder (the powder made the dough a little dry so it had to be balanced by adding a little extra water). The brown dough was obviously chocolate-scented, and for the others, I added orange essence (orange), ground ginger (red) and ground cinnamon (yellow).
Once complete, I set up an invitation to play. I started with the brown dough and set up a tray with dried spaghetti pieces, pipe cleaner pieces, googly eyes, beads, some penne pasta pieces, and some pompoms for adding (a range of objects with a variety of textures for multi-sensory play). In my mind I was thinking about hedgehogs, but I decided not to make any suggestions and just let them use their imaginations and play freely!
E was the first up and he decided to make a monster. He started by squashing and squeezing, moulding and shaping the play dough for a while (and unknowingly helping him to build up his hand strength). He then added googly eyes (one of his favourite things) and lots of pasta (for arms, legs, a nose, and some hair). He absolutely loved adding all of the bits, and I couldn’t believe how long it kept him engaged for.
Even once he had finished his monster he was keen to continue, so we broke up the monster and started again. This time he decided to make a hedgehog (yay). He shaped it into a vague hedgehog shape, and then added googly eyes and the pieces of pipe cleaner for spikes.
A was keen to join in once she returned from preschool. She set about making a hedgehog straight away, but she decided to use the pieces of spaghetti for the spikes instead. She also added a pompom nose before deciding that the pompoms made better ears, and added a bead nose instead.
D and I also joined her in making a hedgehog. I found it amazing that we each made our hedgehogs a slightly different way!
After a long time playing with the brown play dough, E asked for the orange. I therefore decided to change the contents of the tray slightly in order to set up a pumpkin invitation to play instead. For this I simply swapped the beads and pompoms for pieces of green pipe cleaner and black beans.
E attempted a pumpkin straight away, but A decided to start by making a monster! Again, they both enjoyed moulding and shaping the dough in their hands and pressing the different materials into it. They both loved the black beans in particular, and their smooth texture and vibrant black colour gave a really nice effect against the orange play dough.
The best creation of the day, however, was D’s spider – he may have made me add this bit himself.
I love play dough. Apart from being very therapeutic, it also provides countless learning opportunities, and is great for developing fine motor skills!
Now I am just wondering what to do with our yellow and red batches!
lovely ideas here, i have pinned it for later! #sharingthebloglove
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Now I want to make some playdough and join in 🙂
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Amazing ideas! Love all your little hedgehogs. Going to pin this for later, we haven’t played with play dough in ages x #ablogginggoodtime
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I love your little set up, especially the added extra bits. Looks like great fun!
#ablogginggoodtime
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My son is very into playdoh at the moment, although so far we’ve only made balls and snakes and apparently biscuits! I love your idea of adding scent to the mixture, and all of your hedgehogs are so cute! Thanks so much for joining us again at #SharingtheBlogLove
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Super cute!
My littlest is just about big enough for play dough so planning on getting some out over half term – I’m sure her big brother will ‘help’ 🙂
#ablogginggoodtime
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My girls love play dough. I love the idea of setting out a tray like this and let their imagination go. Your husband did well with the spider!!! Thank you for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove x
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This looks like so much fun! I’ve never made play dough which is ridiculous really as I have all the ingredients.
#KCACOLS
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Can’t wait to try this with my little one!! Great creations! #kcacols
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This looks great, I can’t wait until my son is a bit older so we can do this! #KCACOLS
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How cool! I really want to make some for Amelia but she never seems to like it at playgroup so may be a waste of time #KCACOLS
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I love modelling, and play dough but have never made my own, must give it a go! #KCACOLS
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What a great idea to give them all the extra bits to play with as well. My Mum always made us playdough as children 🙂 Thanks for linking up to #PicknMix
Stevie x
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Ohhh lovely ideas. I never thought to put little extras like dried pasta out for them to play with too – I must try it. Thanks so much for linking with #KCACOLS. We hope you com back next week.
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I’m just starting to get Robert into play doh. I did buy some ready made so I haven’t gone down the road of making my own yet. I really really want to. As he’s not completely there yet with using play doh though I’ll just use what we have for now. It does look good fun with the eyes and legs etc. the spider is pretty cool! Love the new look site. You should come and joing in on my new linky #messandplay which runs all month (it’s new and small right now)… Thanks for linking up to #FamilyFun though!
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Ha ha ha what awesome creations and i like the little plates filled with bits to use. great idea!
thanks for linking to #ablogginggoodtime
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Amazing! My kinda Mummy! I quite fancy making some play dough tomorrow now… 🙂 #MBFSL
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Awesome ideas for little ones. I love the little hedgehog, so cute! x #KCACOLS
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I like making playdough and this is such a lovely idea. I keep meaning to get those trays. Thanks for linking to #PickNMix
Eilidh x
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What a lovely craft session! I can’t wait for mine to get a little older for this sort of thing! #KCACOLS
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I love how you set up these invitations to play. I love seeing what children come up with when they’re left to use their imaginations and play the way they want to! x #KCACOLS
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I made a huge batch of Playdough months and months ago (gave myself tennis elbow in the process from trying to stir it in the pan) and it is still going strong! We did a similar activity a couple of days ago actually, using our dip tray…great minds!! Still have an issue of Arthur trying to eat it every now and then though lol! #kcacols
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Oh my goodness you’re amazing, not only did you make your own playdoh but it was scented to! wow. My craft cupboard definitely has shop bought play doh. I feel the shame. Anyway what a great activity for the little ones, love the pasta idea too. Looks like they had a great time though, did I mentioned how impressed I am? Thank you for sharing at #FamilyFun xx
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Wow! Some amazing ideas, what creative little people you have. I’ve made some scented playdough like this, we did cinnamon, cloves and ginger in ours. I might have to get it out again today. Thanks for linking up to the first ever #MBFSL
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