Is your munchkin using his sense of taste as well, while playing? Here is something that can make your little one's playtime fun without you worrying about safety.
Moms - presenting edible homemade playdough recipe. This recipe for play dough is really easy to make, so that you can use all your energy for running after them.
9 Benefits of introducing your child to playdough:
Play dough, is something that's a hit with moms and for the right reasons.
#1. Fine motor skills and hand eye co-ordinationThrough sculpting a lump of playdough into a shape, the muscles of their tiny little hands get exercise and helps in its development. It also enhances their hand to eye coordination.
For kids getting ready to school, it also helps them hold their pencils.
#2. Encourages creativityAlbert Einstein said," Imagination is more important than knowledge."
There is no limit to what a small blob of playdoh can be. It brings their imagination to life and encourages them to be creative. And the pride in their eyes once they have created something, priceless!
#3. Keeps them engagedThis small wonder playdough can leave your kids enthralled for hours. It can transform into anything captivating their minds.
#4. Vocabulary developmentBy explaining and naming what they have created, children can keep adding words to their vocabulary. You can also refer to the 10 ways by which you can encourage communication in toddlers.
#5. Basics of ScienceBehind every strong building is a strong foundation. It is a fun way for them to learn the various basic concepts of science.
For eg: What happens when you apply force to the dough? Rather than just reading about it, if they can see and discover it with their own eyes, they can understand better.
#6. Understanding mathematicsThe very M of mathematics can send shivers down many a spine. But mathematics can be fun too. Your munchkin can learn the numbers maybe fractions even, and they can grow to love maths too.
#7. Builds self esteemWhen you appreciate their masterpieces, you help in building their self-esteem.
#8. CalmingAll that molding, sculpting, pummeling, squeezing and the occasional throwing can have a calming effect on your tot. And not just your tot, if you know what I mean 😛
#9. Great for bondingIt is difficult to find a game where you can match your child's energy levels, but here, you both can sit( yes, you deserve that after all that running around) and play together.
And you know how spending time with your child will help, right?
When to introduce play dough to your little one?Each child has his/her own pace of development.
18 to 24 months is an ideal age to acquaint your child with playdough.
In other words, when your child has almost given up his urge to taste everything he sees, you can let him play with playdough. But whatever the case, you need to supervise your children, especially the tiny ones.
At least till the time, they do not understand the consequences of their actions. Mothers who just heaved a sigh and said, "Oh! That is never going to happen", remember that you might yearn for this phase later 😛
So now you know the benefits. Let's start making some then.
Edible homemade playdough recipe:
Playdough is easily available in the market but knowing my kid, I would rather make a batch of edible playdough. I am pretty sure most of the moms will agree and sympathise with me here. And so, here it is- a basic, no cook play dough recipe with edible ingredients. Let us roll up our sleeves and get to work.
Mix wheat flour, corn flour, salt and baking soda together. Add water to get a dough consistency. You can add food colouring or use natural food colours. You can see that I used water boiled with beetroot.
Add oil and knead till the stickiness of the dough is gone. So one batch of playdough is pink in colour.
Edible Homemade Playdough
How to make colored playdough with natural ingredients?
The process remains the same with the dough. Only the colored water or food colors ought to be added. The options for natural colours are as follows.
- Orange - carrot puree
- Brown - cocoa powder, cinnamon
- Yellow - turmeric
- Green - spinach puree or mint puree
- Purple - jamun
- Pink - pomegranate juice
That's all. It is as simple as that.
Boy, wasn't my kiddo thrilled to see the lump of dough I held. She was delighted and welcomed it with an open mouth. (Kids I tell you)
How does homemade edible playdough taste like?Not very great apparently, because she did scrunch up her face after the first bite. But that still did not deter my little one from popping the dough in her mouth occasionally. But at least I know, it is safe and don't have to call my paediatrician.
Can you store this homemade playdough?We had a great time playing today, doubtful as to who had more fun though. I didn't have much left to store as she ended up slinging some off it here and there. But you can store for 2-3 days.
Put it in a ziplock bag and leave in the fridge. If it seems hard, use a little bit of water and it will be its old self again. Use your mommy senses to see if it has gone bad.
I prefer making it in small batches and not store it at all. Because the dough can be a dust magnet and then it wouldn't be so edible right?
Precautions to be exercised while your child plays with playdough:You need to make sure that your child washes his hand before and after playing with playdough. The dough gets warm due to frequent handling, that coupled with sweaty dirty hands can turn your playdough into a petri dish.
Though the dough can be stored, you need to discard it if your child has been putting it in his/ her mouth too much.
Always refrigerate if you are making a big batch, if you have forgotten to leave it in the fridge, then do not use it.
While this is an edible recipe, do not leave kids below 4 unattended with the dough to prevent accidents.
Make sure your child is not allergic to any of the above ingredients.
Make sure the kid sits in one place, so it becomes easier for you to clean up the mess. You do not want your kid playing with dough she found sticking under the sofa.
I prefer to use natural colors as opposed to the food coloring that's available in the market. While you might not get the same effect, at least it is natural. But some of these natural food coloring can stain your clothes, for instance pomegranate.
Like I have mentioned in the above point, make sure you have a designated area for playing and you can store your Sunday best away if you have any food items that will stain.
Notes:- The texture and amount of water depends on the brand of dough used as well.
- Why add salt and baking soda? You can omit it if you want, but they help in ensuring you get the required texture. Salt also suppress the growth of mould if you plan to store it.
This is definitely the best playdough recipe, because it ticks all the right boxes for me - easy, homemade, edible, no cooking involved, safe for kids, keeps your little one engaged and the list goes on.
Do try at home this edible homemade playdough recipe and let me know if your child had fun and ate it too? How did your playtime go? Also do you have a go to homemade playdough recipe? Do let me know.
Comments and suggestions are always welcome.