Homemade Play Dough

Toddler playing with orange playdough at Bright Horizons day care

Materials Needed:

  • 1 cup of flour
  • 3/4 cup of salt
  • 1 tablespoon of cream of tartar
  • 1/2 cup of warm water
  • 5 drops of natural food coloring

Directions:

  1. Mix together the flour, salt, and cream of tartar.
  2. Mix together 1/2 cup of warm water with a few drops of food coloring.
  3. Slowly pour the water into the flour mixture, stirring as you pour. Stir until combined, then knead with your hands until the flour is completely absorbed. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour until it doesn’t stick at all.
  4. Repeat the process for each color you’d like to make.
  5. Store in an airtight container with a lid for up to a week.

Notes: Mixing the food coloring with the water before combining with the dry ingredients allows you to blend them by stirring, without staining your hands.

Bright Horizons
About the Author
Bright Horizons
Bright Horizons
In 1986, our founders saw that child care was an enormous obstacle for working parents. On-site centers became one way we responded to help employees – and organizations -- work better. Today we offer child care, elder care, and help for education and careers -- tools used by more than 1,000 of the world’s top employers and that power many of the world's best brands
Toddler playing with orange playdough at Bright Horizons day care