Yes, I know Valentine’s Day is about a month away, but last week we opened up our snow playdough and it was gross and slimey. Yuck! Time to make new playdough! I figured we might as well spread the love and get a jump start on Valentine’s Day. Playdough is one of my favorite children’s activities because it’s a two for one deal. You get to make the playdough with your kids and then they have something to play with afterward. A full afternoon of fun with Valentine’s Day Playdough!
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- 2 C flour
- 1 C salt
- 2 C water
- 4 tsp cream of tartar
- 2 TB vegetable oil
- red food coloring
- red and silver glitter
- heart sequins (optional, can be purchased at a craft shop or sometimes a stationary store)
- Pour first five ingredients into a large saucepan and stir together.
- Have your child add drops of red food coloring and stir.
- Add glitter and heart sequins.
- Move the mixture to the stove top and cook on medium heat stirring constantly.
- In the beginning the playdough mixture will look like very thick pancake batter.
- Continue to stir until a ball forms.
- Remove from heat and cool on a counter top. Be careful! The playdough will be very hot.
- Once warm or cool to the touch your playdough is ready.
AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT ENHANCED MAKING AND USING VALENTINE’S DAY PLAYDOUGH
mathematics (measurement, fractions, addition)
fine motor development
gross motor development
scientific exploration (what happens when we add heat to playdough mixture?)
creativity
language development
social development (patience, delayed gratification, turn taking)
HOW TO MAKE VALENTINE’S DAY PLAYDOUGH
Pour first five ingredients into a large saucepan and stir together. This is a great opportunity to include your children. Show them how to measure the ingredients and pour them in. More than one child? Have them take turns pouring ingredients and stirring. This is an easy opportunity to practice basic counting, verbal directions and patience. We sing “We stir and we stir and we stop. We stir and we stir and we stop. We stir and we stir and we stir and we stir, we stir and we stir and we stop. Next person!” It’s a simple song that everyone can learn quickly and helps manage turn taking.
Have your child add drops of red food coloring and stir. Let your children decide how much food coloring to add.
Add glitter and heart sequins.
Move the mixture to the stove top and cook on medium heat stirring constantly. In the beginning the playdough mixture will look like very thick pancake batter. Continue to stir until a ball forms. Remove from heat and cool on a counter top. Be careful! The playdough will be very hot. Once warm or cool to the touch your playdough is ready. Rolling pins and heart cookie cutters are a great addition to your Valentine’s Day playdough!
