by Kimberly Smart

Created on: May 02, 2008   Last Updated: July 29, 2011

One of my daughter's favorite things to do is play. Of course what toddler would not enjoy that! Being the crafty person that I am I do not want to sit around and just play any old game with her, I want to dive in there and do something artist and unique. I have decided to share some of the ideas that I had that she enjoyed the most.

The number one most popular idea that I have done with her is an old Girl Scout activity of making play dough. I started make this with her when I could not find in the store the popular brand that shall remain nameless.

The recipe is as follows: 1 cup of flour, cup of salt (preferably not kosher because it leaves the mixture grainy), 1 cup of water, 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar (can be found in the baking aisle in the grocery store), 2 tablespoons of cooking oil and a teaspoon of food coloring if you want your play dough to have colors. Putting a teaspoon or so of glitter also makes a really great effect as well. My daughter is particularly found of black play dough with rainbow glitter. You can also add a delicious smell by adding an essence that would be used in candle making. It might encourage a child to take a bite but they learn pretty quickly that it does not taste that great.

You put all of this into a pot and combine. You then put the mixture over medium heat on the stove. You continue to mix it together until it starts to form a ball. When it has formed a ball but is sill a little wet you can dump the mixture of the counter top and let it cool for a few seconds. You than have to give it a good knead. This is my favorite part as well as my daughter's. She understands what I have in my hand and wants to have fun with it. It is still to warm so I would not advise chucking it to a child to play with just yet. After it is kneaded all together and still slightly warm you can put it in a baggy to cool completely. Once it is cool sit any child down with some cookie cutters or a plastic knife and they will play for a long time. My daughter will play for up to an hour just cutting it in tiny little pieces and putting it together again. You can even use this play dough to make ornaments at Christmas or even if you just like what ever you have molded you can keep it forever. Just after you have made something you like set it out over night uncovered and the next morning you will have a keepsake. I would not suggest baking it on the oven because it just gets fluffy and gooey like a cookie.

Another craft that is also enjoyed in

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