There’s a crazy number of play dough recipes on the internet. And I asked myself the other day: “why would someone want to come check your silly play dough recipe out instead of someone else’s?” I have no idea why. There’s no good answer to that question. But I do know this: I’m all about making yummy-smelling play dough that’s taste-safe for my kiddos AND that’s brilliantly colored that we can use in all sorts of fun projects. I don’t know if those are everyone’s goals regarding play dough (although I hope they are), but maybe that’s why I think my Taste-Safe Peppermint Play Dough is kind of the tops. I mean, it hits all the high-points. It’s really yummy smelling (not quite as yummy-smelling as my vanilla play dough, but that’s a different story) and it’s very pretty. I was kind of in love with it. All sorts of heart-loving-love. LOL!
Ingredients for Taste-Safe Peppermint Play Dough
- 1 cup baking soda
- 3/4 cup water
- 3 tblspns oil
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 cup salt
- 2 tspn peppermint extract (mmmm…)
- 15 drops red food coloring
How to Make Taste-Safe Peppermint Play Dough
- Mix dry ingredients together in a medium mixing bowl.
- Mix wet ingredients together in a small mixing bowl.
- Add wet ingredients into dry in 1/3 increments.
- Mix everything together using your hands.
Is Play Dough STEM (STEAM) Play?
I’m beginning to wonder if play dough is a kind of STEM/STEAM activity for kids. I mean there’s something about play dough that totally capitates them, no matter their age or general disposition. I can put a lump of play dough on the counter at my house and not only will my 2 year old dig-in for a half-hour, my 13 year old will follow-along behind her and play with it, too. I don’t know what it is. They’re both doing very different things with it. My son has a tendency to make things with it–like tiny little sculptures (see all those heart pictures of the peppermint play dough? he did those); whereas my daughter has a tendency to mash and grab. But, either way, they’re both learning while playing. Makes me wonder. What do you think? Hit me with a comment, let me know if you think it’s a STEM activity to just straight-up play with play dough…