homemade play dough

I love to make homemade play dough, especially Kool-Aid play dough because it's much cheaper to make than peanut butter play dough. Both are edible, but with Kool-Aid play dough, you get to pick the color and flavor depending on the flavor of Kool-Aid you pick.

First, you have to fill the measuring cup full of flour,

using one spoonful at a time. Then you carefully add the salt.

And some vegetable oil and stir. You really don't have to stir, but it gives your helper something to do while you wait for the water to boil.

Add the Kool-Aid whenever you want. We sprinkle ours in with the dry ingredients and add the water last. I stir the water and finish making the dough because it's hot for the first five minutes or so.

It looks kind of nasty when you first start to stir. This batch was orange.

Once it's cooled, let your little ones play in it, roll it out, and use any simple household items to use while playing. We use orange peelers for knives, measuring cups to fill, cookie cutters to cut out, and rolling pins. Sometimes for the older kids I give them toothpicks.

After the dough is about done, I usually add another 1-2 spoonfuls of flour, just to make the dough a little less sticky.

Even the older kids love play dough.

Like I said, measuring cups and orange peelers make for some simple toys.

The imaginative play has been going on for over 3 hours now. No lie. Play dough is such a good stress reliever for kids because they can squeeze it and mold it and it also works so many of their senses. It can be kept in the fridge for a long time in bags.

Kool-Aid Play Dough

2 1/2 C Flour

1/2 C Salt

3 TB Vegetable Oil

2 Packets Kool-Aid

2 Cups Boiling Water

Mix it all together and you have lots of fun on a rainy day! Like I said, you can add more flour or water, depending on if it's too sticky or too dry. I always add extra flour. Enjoy!