Crafts and slime

Homemade playdough

A batch takes 15 minutes and costs pennies. Make three colours and let them loose with cutters, rolling pins and old lolly sticks.

Ages2+
Time15 mins
CostUnder £5
MessLow mess
WhereIndoors

What you need

A grown-up handles the boiling water. Let the dough cool before little hands go in.

Let's go

  1. Mix the flour, salt and cream of tartar in a big bowl.

  2. Add the oil and a few drops of food colouring to the boiling water. A grown-up pours this into the bowl.

  3. Stir with a wooden spoon until it comes together into a sticky lump.

  4. Leave it to cool for a few minutes, then knead it on the worktop until smooth. Add a sprinkle of flour if it's sticky.

  5. Split it into balls and knead a different colour into each one if you want a rainbow set.

Real talk

  • Glitter or a drop of vanilla or peppermint makes it feel extra special.
  • Keep it in a sandwich bag in the fridge and it lasts for weeks.
  • It's salty, which puts most toddlers off eating it, but keep an eye on the little ones anyway.

Love making things? Try a pottery café

Paint-your-own pottery and craft workshops make a lovely rainy-day trip.

Find a day out

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