Let’s Make Homemade Playdough!
Making homemade playdough is a fun and easy activity that you can do with your children or by yourself. It is sure to help cure boredom blues. Playdough has been a beloved children's toy for generations, but its history is rooted in practicality rather than play.
In the 1930s, a man named Noah McVicker was trying to develop a cleaning product for coal miners to remove soot from wallpaper. However, when the demand for the product didn't materialize, McVicker's company, Kutol, was on the verge of bankruptcy.
McVicker's sister-in-law, a schoolteacher, suggested that the company repurpose the putty-like substance as a modeling clay for children. The non-toxic, non-staining, and easy-to-shape substance was an instant hit and was marketed as Play-Doh.
Play-Doh was initially sold in one-gallon cans to schools, but by the 1950s, it had become a household name and was sold in smaller packages to the general public. In the 1960s, Play-Doh introduced new colors and began marketing to a wider audience with television commercials featuring children playing with the product.
Over the years, Play-Doh has continued to evolve, adding new colors and scents, as well as introducing playsets that allow children to create more elaborate creations. Today, Play-Doh is a classic children's toy and a staple in classrooms and homes around the world.
Here is a simple recipe that uses common household ingredients:
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups boiling water
Food coloring (optional)
Essential oil or vanilla extract for fragrance (optional)
Instructions:
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and cream of tartar until well combined.
Add the vegetable oil and stir until the mixture is crumbly.
Add the boiling water and stir until the mixture comes together into a ball.
If you want to add food coloring, divide the ball of dough into separate portions and add a few drops of food coloring to each portion. Knead the dough until the color is evenly distributed.
Optional: Add a few drops of essential oil or vanilla extract for fragrance.
Store the playdough in an airtight container or plastic bag.
Your homemade playdough is now ready to use! It can be stored at room temperature for a few weeks. If it starts to dry out, you can add a few drops of water and knead it until it becomes soft and pliable again. Enjoy!