4 minute play dough recipe

If your having trouble finding activities during the summer in Dubai and it is simply too hot to play outside play dough is the perfect thing. Play dough is a fun creative activity for children and a great way to train little muscles in their hands to develop dexterity, build strength and refine fine motor skills! Encouraging your child to use both hands to roll, shape and even pound play dough can improve their bilateral hand coordination!

Play dough can be a great outlet for emotional stress and a wild imagination so simply refrain from distracting them and just let them play freely.

Not many nurseries are willing to share their secrete recipes but we simply couldn't keep this one to ourselves. We at Kids Island and Cocoon Nursery believe in "sharing is caring!" so here is our recipe for play dough we actually use. 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of plain flour (all purpose)

• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

• 1/2 cup of salt

• 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar (powder) or replace with 6 tablespoons of lemon juice. Note: If you use lemon juice you will require less water.

• 1.5 cups of boiling water (Should be poured away from the children, on an adult counter top)

• Food colouring or natural pigments such as turmeric, cinnamon… (optional)

• Food essences strawberry, mint… (optional)

Recipe method:

• Mix the flour, salt and cream of tartar in a large mixing bowl

• Add food colouring/food essences (lemon juice if not using cream of tartar) and oil to the hot water, then add into the dry ingredients

• Stir continuously until it becomes a sticky, combined dough

• Allow it to cool down, then take it out of the bowl and knead it vigorously for a couple of minutes until all of the stickiness has gone.  This is the most important part of the process, so
 keep at it until it’s the perfect consistency!

• If it remains a little sticky then add a touch more flour until just right

Storage & Use:


Store in an airtight container at room temperature. 
Will last for months ☺. If it gets a bit dry just add a few drops of water and knead through until it’s a nice consistence again. To make it interesting and interactive, gather bits and bobs from around the house or garden, such as stones, sticks, leaves, bits of wool, acorns… and let your children explore!

Recipe created by The Imagination Tree

Sand Dough Recipe!

Sensory Activity Objective:

What a great way to let the children mix, kneed and explore this special sand dough and at the same time develop their language and fine motor skills in a very creative way!
Engage in a conversation that supports this activity i.e.
 
What textures do you feel? Is it soft, hard…? 
What happens to the flour when we add water?
Where can we find sand in Dubai?
What can you do with wet sand, and dry sand?

Activity Words: Soft, hard, gritting, rough, squeeze, roll, pull, cut, mold, create…
 

Items required:

• Clean play sand – 4 cups

• Flour – 3 cups

• Water – 1 cup

• ¼ cup vegetable oil

Equipment required:

• Glass mixing bowl

• Wooden spoon

• Rolling pin

Method: 

1. Combine the flour, salt, water and oil in a mixing bowl.

2. Knead with your hands until the mixture forms a ball.

3. If the mixture is too dry, gradually add water until it reaches a nice dough consistency and if the mixture is too watery, gradually add more flour.

4. Let the child’s “creation” dry on a tray.

Easy Clay Ornaments!

Easy Clay Ornaments!

Looking for a recipe to make ornaments for the holidays?
We found the best one and you only need everyday kitchen ingredients to do it!

What you will need!

• 2 cups baking soda

• 1 cup cornstarch

• 1.1/4 cup water

• Cookie cutters/stamps

• Straw for the holes

• Ribbons for hanging ornaments

What to do

• Mix the baking soda and cornstarch in a pan. Add the water and mix. Place on stove (medium heat) and bring to a boil stirring constantly throughout.

• In few minutes, the watery mixture will thicken and suddenly become almost like mashed potatoes. Straight away remove from the heat and place mixture onto a cookie sheet in one lump. Cover with a damp cloth and leave to cool.

• Once it is cool enough to work with, lightly dust the surface with cornstarch and roll it out into a snake roll. Divide it into smaller chunks. It will have the smooth consistency of fondant.

• Stamp it with stamps (with or without ink) and then cut it with the cookie cutter, finishing it off with a hole using the straw.

• Leave it to air dry overnight.