Simple 3 Ingredient Homemade Playdough

Creative time as a family is one of the dearest things to my heart. As an artist, and a former art teacher, I know that the process of using your hands to create something has so much power! Our girls love playdough, and can spend countless time playing together when we have a fresh batch.

Making homemade playdough is simpler than you might think, and added bonus: your kids can be little helpers while you work together in the kitchen, especially when you are making homemade playdough without cooking!

Why We Love Sensory Play

Using playdough is also really great for supporting the improvement of fine motor skills, hand eye coordination, and adding a sense of calm. Playdough can also be considered a sensory activity, especially when you incorporate tools like little rolling pins, plastic cutting utensils, cookie cutters, (let your imagination run wild)!

Sensory play is important at any age, and can encourage the growth of nerve connection in the brains pathways, support a child’s ability to learn, support language development and cognitive growth, increase problem solving skills, and more! We also find sensory play to be a great creative, and calming, screen-free activity!

Tips for Playdough Playtime

When you make your own homemade playdough, be sure to use air tight jars to store it in, it can last a longer time this way! I also love making batches that are different color schemes like purples blues and greens for mermaid play-dough, shades of pinks for princesses or fairies, shades of green, brown earth tones, and blue for nature. Or, if your preschooler is learning their colors – start with primary colors and allow them to mix a few smaller batches of their own colors!

You might even be able to find a homemade playdough recipe edible. Ours isn’t, but we do use a homemade playdough no cream of tartar.

Try these simple activities with your little ones for hours of fun!!

3 ingredient homemade play dough:

1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup baby lotion
Food coloring or natural coloring (optional)
In a bowl, mix cornstarch and baby lotion. Add a few drops of food coloring (if you want pastel colors, only 4-5 drops are needed).
Knead ingredients together for at least 2 minutes until it starts to feel like dough. If after 2 minutes, it still feels powdery, add another drop of baby lotion.

*This should be a supervised activity. Let your little one pour the ingredients in the bowl & mix, but then a grownup should do the kneading to ensure that everything incorporates well and is the right consistence.

**For added fun, add in a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil. Something calming like lavender can take the experience to a whole new level!

Get ready for afternoons of fun, and lots of imaginative (and quite independent) play that is fun for all ages. Let us know if you try our homemade playdough recipe easy, or be sure to share it with us on social media!