PLAY
IDEAS 12
ABOUTPLAYDOUGH
RECIPES
Play and LearningProgram
P.A.L. PLAY AND LEARNING PROGRAM© Department of Health, Western Australia, 2003
Permanent Playdough (Baker’s Clay)2 cups salt1/2 cup water
1 cup cornflour
Mix together in a saucepan and gently
heat. Stir continuously until the mixture
resembles bread dough. Use soon after
making. Model and leave to dry. Will
harden at room temperature in 2 days, and
ready to paint. Ideal for necklaces,
decorations or gifts.
Gluten-free Playdough1/2 cup white rice flour1/2 cup maize cornflour1/2 cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 cup water, with food colouring added
1 teaspoon cornflour
Mix all ingredients. Cook over a low heat
until mixture congeals. Let cool and knead.
Mercury goop (cornflour)1 cup cornflour
1 cup water, with colouring added
Plastic tray
Mix ingredients together to make a stiff
consistency. This mixture will ooze
through the child’s fingers, and spread
over the tray like mercury. Then it can be
gathered back into the hands, leaving the
tray clean. Weird!
Clean up by scooping into a plastic bag, and
placing in the rubbish- don’t pour down the
sink.
Slime1/2 cup pure soap flakes
3 cups boiling water
Mix together in a basin or bucket and
leave overnight to form soft slime.
Damper (edible dough)3 cups self-raising flour
45gms butter1/2 cup milk3/4 cup water
Sift flour into a bowl and rub in butter.
Make a well in the centre, add combined
milk and water all at once, and mix lightly
with a fork. Knead dough on a lightly floured
board until smooth. Shape or use with
cutters. Bake 40mins in a moderate oven, or
until golden brown and cooked through.
Serve straight from the oven.
Paint (cornflour based)2 tablespoons cornflour1/2 cup cold water
2 cups boiling water
powdered edicol dye or food colouring
Mix cornflour to a smooth past with cold
water. While stirring, gradually add boiling
water until mix thickens. Leave to cool.
Mix will thicken more but should still pour
easily. Pour into paint pots and add _
teaspoon of edicol dye to each pot.
(Finger paint: use 3 cups water to 1 cup
cornflour)
Bubble recipe1/4 cup quality detergent
1 cup water
2 tspns glycerine (optional, from chemist)
Combine thoroughly and let settle.
Blow bubbles with straws or bubble
blowers. A bubble pipe can be made with a
straw pushed into a polystyrene or paper
cup with stocking stretched over the top
and secured with an elastic band. Dip the
stocking into the bubble mix and blow
through the straw, to create a waterfall
of bubbles.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONSSAFETY PRECAUTIONS
� These recipes are for an adult to make with a child. Always supervise children
closely, but especially while cooking, as hot ingredients and utensils are used and
instructions like “Don’t touch” are easily forgotten in the excitement.