In July, I spoke at the Southeast Homeschool Expo down in Atlanta, Georgia. While there, I served on a Homeschool Q and A panel alongside three other moms. One popular question for panel members was How can I keep my young children engaged while schooling older children?

One panel member recommended using fun hands-on activities little ones could enjoy for a good length of time. This suggestion immediately reminded me of one of my tricks I used to keep my young girls actively engaged: the Play Dough Activity Bin.

Since my girls loved Play Dough and used so much of it, I started to make my own. Once I mastered the basic Play Dough recipe, I decided to get a little “extra”.  I added vibrant colors, scented the dough with essential oils, and added glitter. Our colorful, glittery, well scented homemade doughs were a huge hit.

The girls’ friends loved our homemade dough so much that I started giving it as birthday gifts. I’d store the dough inside Dollar Tree containers, place the containers inside a decorative birthday bag, and add a bag of plastic kid-friendly cookie cutters. Instant homemade gift!

Preparing homemade Play Dough is easy.  I always prepare a double batch, split it into sections, spruce it up, and store it. If the dough stays covered and remains clean, it can last several weeks. An added benefit of making homemade dough is that you know exactly what’s in it.

Ready to try it? Here’s the tried and true recipe we use.

Homemade Play Dough

• 3 cups water
• 1½ cups salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 6 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
• 3 cups water
• 3 tablespoons oil
• optional add ins (food coloring, glitter, and essential oil of your choice)

Add water and salt to a large pot. Place the pot over medium heat and stir until the salt dissolves. Add the remaining ingredients to the pot. Stir constantly until a ball forms and the dough pulls away from the sides. Remove the dough from the pot and knead it until the texture matches Play Dough consistency, usually 1-2 minutes.

Note: In order to get the consistency just right, I usually have to add a bit more flour to the mat while kneading the dough. I also use Wilton Cake Gels to achieve the bright colors my daughter loves. The cake gels stain, so use plastic gloves while kneading and protect countertops while working.

Homemade Play Dough is fun to play with. Have you ever made some for your kids?