Suggestions For Play-Doh Mess Control

[cheerfuldom]

What kind of oil? just regular vegetable cooking oil?

[Blackcat31]

I use a 3 ingredient play-doh recipe:

1/4 cup salt
1 cup flour
1/4 cup water


I also do the show curtain/table cloth thing as it works wonderful. I also skip the chairs and have the kids stand at the table as standing offers them a bit more mobility and control over their movements which in turn helps them not drop as much on the floor. I would definitely suggest having them stand and see if it makes a difference.

Here are a couple other really fun recipe's for dough-type play:

Play Clay:

2 cups baking soda
1 cup corn starch
1 and 1/4 c of water

Put ingredients in a saucepan and cook over medium heat stirring continuously until it is the consistency of mashed potatoes. If you would like, you can separate it into smaller batches and add a few drops of food coloring. Put the dough onto a plate to cool. You can use it to make animals, people, shapes etc. Let dry over night and then paint.
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Fun Putty

1 part liquid starch
2 parts white school glue

Pour the tarch into the glue a little bit at a time. Knead together. Add more starch to make it less sticky. Cover and refrigerate over night.
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Slime

1 tsp Metamucil
1 and 1/4 cups water

Put ingredients into a jar and cover. Shake for a couple minutes. Pour into a microwave safe bowl and add a few drops of food coloring. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Cool for 3 minutes. Microwave again for 5 minutes. The mixure will be VERY hot! Let cool for atleast one hour before playing with it.

All of these recipes are fantastic for sensory play and they are also a great activity for any age!

*a word of warning though.....if you at all have issues with textures, don't try to make the slime recipe as it has the consistency of snot ::

[Kiki]

*a word of warning though.....if you at all have issues with textures, don't try to make the slime recipe as it has the consistency of snot ::

We made the slime here a couple of weeks ago and the kids referred to it as 'the babies boogers.' ::::

We use home made here as well, it really doesn't crumble as much as the store bought.

[spud912]

Yeah I definitely don't allow standing. My group is extremely active and standing = walking around = running around = putting playdoh throughout the playroom. It gets out of control within seconds. Anytime I need complete control of the situation, to the table we go.

[Blackcat31]

Yeah I definitely don't allow standing. My group is extremely active and standing = walking around = running around = putting playdoh throughout the playroom. It gets out of control within seconds. Anytime I need complete control of the situation, to the table we go.

The standing method works really well for me because we have a shower curtain/table cloth on the floor and they know they cannot leave the mat on the floor. If they do, they are done. Makes it simple here.


I do the same though as far as other activities when I need complete control...to the table we go!

[My3cents]

I don't like the smell of regular play doh, but I still use it from time to time.

I do allow the kids to play with more than one color and mix it. That is the fun and learning of color mixing. Doesn't bother me.

The mess doesn't bother me either and if it is going to then I just don't take it out. We do something else. As something to do before a pick up- no, come the end of the day I don't want to create a new mess that is going to need to be cleaned up possibly after hours and by myself. No thanks and cleaning the kids while parents are trying to pick up- no. Usually a morning activity

I too like the Mikes recipe for playdough that you cook until it forms a ball. Best stuff.

[cheerfuldom]

I am making slime and playdoh for my daughters birthday party favors. Everything will be green for dinosaurs.
My neighbor even ran over some cream of tartar as I had no idea what the heck that was! Wish me luck!

[littlemissmuffet]

I use the same recipe but add a package of koolaid without sugar to each one. You get vibrant colors and it smells yummy.

Great tip, thank you!!

[Childminder]

I also HATE the smell of "Play Doh" so make my own and I put the kids one or two at a time at a little table inside of a small wading pool. I also HATE scraping it out of my carpet or off of my floor.

[spud912]

The standing method works really well for me because we have a shower curtain/table cloth on the floor and they know they cannot leave the mat on the floor. If they do, they are done. Makes it simple here.


I do the same though as far as other activities when I need complete control...to the table we go!

That's a good idea! My younger dd is the worst culprit. She is 18 months old and is literally all over the place! She wants to do everything the big kids are doing and gets soooo frustrated when she can't do it the same way.