scented playdough

Apple Playdough Tray

October 15, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Tis the season of all things apple, and here’s a tantalizing apple playdough tray to add to your rotation of fall activities. It features playdough in three different scents and colors. The aromatic apple-themed sensory activity also works well for a nutrition or fruit and vegetable theme.

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Apple-Scented Playdough Recipe

Gather the following easy-to-find supplies for this silky apple-scented playdough recipe:

apple-scented hair conditioner
cornstarch
large bowl
green food coloring
measuring cup
spoon for stirring

To make the simple no-cook recipe, first scoop 2 parts of cornstarch into a large bowl. Next, add one part apple-scented hair conditioner and mix it with the cornstarch using a stirring spoon. Then knead the scented dough ingredients together to make a smooth dough. If the dough is a bit crumbly, add a tad more hair conditioner. If it is a little slimy, add a bit more cornstarch. A playdough recipe couldn’t be any easier to make.

Apple themed playdough invitation with apple cutting board, ice cube tray, cookie cutters, leaves, and gems.

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Optional: Mix in a generous amount of green food coloring with the apple-scented hair conditioner before adding it to the cornstarch to get a light green color of playdough. You can also add the food coloring at the end. In this case, the playdough will look marbled with green at first and turn an even shade of light green after it has been used in a playdough invitation.

While you are making this recipe, it may not look like it will form a smooth playdough. Be assured that it will.

This dough becomes more mouldable as it is being handled. Round balls and other shapes are easy to form once it is warmed up a little with little human hands!

When using the dough for a second or third time, set it out and let learners add a tad more conditioner to their dough. If it gets a little mushy, have them work in a bit of cornstarch. They will love doing this.

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Apple-Scented Playdough Variations

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Since many apples come in varying combinations of red, green, and yellow hues, you can use other conditioner colors such as strawberry hair conditioner with red food coloring added to make red dough, and coconut hair conditioner with yellow food coloring added to make yellow dough.

Color mixing is a favorite activity for little learners, and they will relish the chance to mix all three colors of playdough together.

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Apple Playdough Tray

This apple playdough tray is easy to set up for little learners. Three colors of playdough are featured, but little learners would be more than happy to use only one scented playdough variety for the activity.

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In the tray are:

red, green, and yellow playdough
apple cookie cutters
alphabet letter wood stamps
leaf pie edgers
red, green, and yellow acrylic apple gems
green, red, and yellow apple counters
yellow, green, and red beads
brown pipe cleaners
drinking straws

Scented hair conditioner is an effortless ingredient to use in playdough, especially when only one or two other ingredients are required. Checking for it at dollar stores is an economical alternative.

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Having a bulk container of cornstarch ensures that there will be enough of this ingredient to make the playdough for a group of students. Using one cup of cornstarch to one-half cup of conditioner makes a recipe big enough for one or two children to share.

Loose parts such as yellow, green, and red apple counters, acrylic gems, and beads add interest to the tray.

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Pipe cleaners cut in half and wrapped around a pencil make curly caterpillars. Cut straws can be used to poke holes in the playdough and represent how caterpillars dig holes in apples and burrow inside.

Lowercase alphabet letter wood stamps offer an opportunity to spell the word apple.

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More Apple Activities

For more apple-themed activities, check out the following blog posts:

Apple Theme Activities

Watercolor Apples With Markers

Apple Print Activities

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[Read more…]

Orange-Scented Playdough Invitation

January 14, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This orange-scented playdough invitation introduces early learners to scents and colors that work with current festivities. The activity is a good fit for Christmas and carries over to Lunar New Year celebrations.

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Oranges And Christmas

Oranges have been part of Christmas traditions for many years. Here are some ways they were incorporated into the festive holiday season in times past:

In pioneer days, oranges were rare. As such, they were prized stocking stuffers.
Sliced oranges were used in natural decorations, such as wreaths, garlands, and tree ornaments.
Oranges were made into deliciously scented clove-studded pomanders that were displayed in Christmas décor afterward.

Cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise add fun to an orange-scented playdough invitation.

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Today, oranges are still popular in Christmas decorating projects. And people are encouraged to eat the nutrient-rich, vitamin C-packed fruit to ward off a cold or flu.

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Oranges And The Lunar New Year

Mandarin oranges, preferably with a stem and a few leaves attached, are given as gifts and used in decorating during Lunar New Year celebrations. They symbolize happiness, good luck, wealth, longevity, and fertility.

Mandarin oranges with stems and leaves attached indicate freshness and represent wishes for long life and fertility in Chinese New Year celebrations.

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Spices such as star anise, cloves, and cinnamon are native to parts of Asia. And these three spices are also part of Chinese five spice powder, a spice used to season many Asian dishes.

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Orange-Scented Playdough Recipe

The orange jello in this recipe gives the dough a lovely citrus scent and a bright orange color.

For the playdough, gather the following ingredients:

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 3 oz / 85-gram packages of orange jello powder
2 cups water
3 tablespoons oil

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How To Make Orange-Scented Playdough

An easy-to-make orange-scented orange playdough recipe showcased with loose parts early learners will love to explore.

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To make this soft, cooked playdough recipe, add the first three ingredients to a sturdy pot and mix them together.

Stir in two 3 oz/85 gram packages of orange jello powder into two cups of boiled water. Then stir in 2 tablespoons oil.

Add the fruity liquid to the dry ingredients and combine.

Heat on the stove on medium heat.

Stirring frequently, cook until the mixture is no longer glossy and the dough forms a ball.

Place the dough on a cutting board.

Knead when cool and add one more tablespoon of oil.

Wrap the playdough in saran wrap and place it in a sealed plastic bag to store it.

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The Orange-Scented Playdough Invitation

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For a traditional vibe, offer the orange playdough on a tray with the following:

cinnamon sticks
star anise pods
whole cloves
ribbon
mandarin orange leaves and stems
tree sprigs
pine cones

The star anise, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and grated orange rind add additional scents for children to experience when using the playdough supplies. They contribute to the cultural vibes of the play invitation.

Tip: Show a few samples of pomanders and Christmas decorations using dried oranges before offering this playdough invitation to inspire creativity. Or display a miniature orange tree and/or oranges with stems and leaves attached for early learners to observe.

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Adding Grated Orange Rind

Grated orange rind, cloves, and cinnamon sticks add interest to an orange-scented playdough invitation.

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To extend this aromatic playdough experience, sprinkle grated orange rind near each participant’s work area. The crumbled, scented rind gives early learners a chance to incorporate a new texture into their creations.

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Orange-Scented Playdough Invitation Benefits

This orange-scented playdough invitation has many educational benefits. When using the playdough and accompanying supplies, early learners develop finger strength, important for being able to hold a pencil and use scissors. And eye-hand coordination is enhanced through making playdough creations.

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Below are suggestions to extend the learning potential of this playdough experience:

Language Development

Label spices and discuss their colors and shapes:

Highlight that star anise pods look like stars, whole cloves are shaped like nails, and cinnamon sticks look like tiny rolled logs.

Smell and describe the following scents:

the strong, sweet, licorice smell of star anise.
the fragrant, sweet smell of cinnamon sticks.
the strong, powerful smell of whole cloves.

Math Skills

Count cloves and star anise pods.

Count the points on star anise. There are usually six to eight points.

Discuss pairs: In parts of Asia, a pair of oranges is given to newlywed couples as a symbol of luck and fertility.

Creativity

Design oranges and pomanders from playdough and spices.

Incorporate natural materials in playdough designs.

Cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise add fun to orange-scented playdough creations.

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Related:

Santa Claus Playdough Tray

Christmas Playdough

Gingerbread Playdough

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[Read more…]

Gingerbread Playdough

December 12, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Christmas playdough recipes are all about the smells, and this gingerbread playdough is no exception. The fragrant recipe is easy to make and doesn’t require cooking or using boiling water. This makes it perfect for early learners to help make, and they can participate from start to finish.

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The Playdough Ingredients

This scented gingerbread playdough requires no cooking or boiling water. Invite early learners to help make it from start to finish and can experience all the aromatic smells.

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Gather the following for this homemade gingerbread-scented dough:

1 cup flour
½ cup salt
1 ½ teaspoon ground ginger
1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
½ cup water

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How To Make Gingerbread Playdough

This homemade scented gingerbread playdough and the festive loose parts are ready to be explored by little learners.

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Measure all of the above ingredients in a bowl. Invite early learners to help.

Mix the spicy mixture into a dough, and knead it thoroughly. The kneading helps strengthen little helpers’ hand and finger muscles.

Four spices in addition to salt are included in the dough. Allowing your little helpers to smell each one is a rich sensory opportunity.

The spices add color to this all-natural playdough, so no additional color is needed.

Another plus for this homemade playdough is that it can be used in a play invitation as soon as it has been made. It doesn’t need cool down time like a cooked playdough or recipe that uses boiling water would.

This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to be enough for a group of children.

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Gingerbread Playdough Invitation

After helping make the playdough, little learners will love using it to mold and decorate gingerbread houses and people. Offer loose parts in a party tray for a spicy playdough invitation.

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The loose parts in the tray above are:

gingerbread house and people cookie cutters
gingerbread ornaments
cut sparkly pipe cleaners and pompoms
cut rick rack and straws
buttons
candy cane and gingerbread erasers
bows
bead garland
wiggly eyes

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In this next tray, gingerbread house shapes, felt gingerbread people, beads, and rubber peppermint lollipops are included in the mix.

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Gingerbread Playdough Invitation Benefits

This heavenly-scented playdough invitation offers many benefits:

Exercising creativity by decorating pretend cookies.
Language development by using playdough cutouts to retell gingerbread stories or develop new ones.
Gaining hand and finger strength by rolling, pressing, and kneading dough, and decorating it with loose parts.
Role-playing working in a pretend bakery and baking cookies in a play oven.

Tip: A small box with a rack placed inside makes an easy DIY oven for pretend play.

A cardboard box with a rack set inside makes a terrific play oven to bake gingerbread playdough cookies and muffins.

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How To Store Gingerbread Playdough

This amazing gingerbread-scented dough is not sticky, rolls out just fine, and works well with cookie cutters.

To store it, wrap it in saran wrap and place it in an airtight container. Doing this will keep it nice and moist. To my delight, the playdough is even easier to work with when you pull it out for additional play.

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More Christmas Playdough Recipes:

Christmas Playdough

Chocolate Mint Playdough

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[Read more…]

Watermelon Playdough Tray

August 12, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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What better time to set out a watermelon playdough tray than on a hot summer day like today? The tray features an easy-to-make scented playdough recipe using Kool-Aid. So if you are experiencing a heat wave like we are, you can use some of the Kool-Aid in a cold, refreshing drink, and save the rest for the playdough recipe.

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Scented Playdough Recipe

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This playdough recipe is soft, pliable, and lasts a long time. Gather the following ingredients:

500 ml / 2 cups flour
250 ml / 1 cup salt
20 ml / 4 teaspoons cream of tartar
450 ml water (almost 2 cups)
45 ml / 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
48 ml bottle of watermelon-flavored concentrated liquid Kool-Aid

To make the scented dough, follow the steps below:

Measure the first three ingredients into a sturdy pot and mix them together.

Add two tablespoons vegetable oil and a 48 ml bottle of liquid watermelon Kool-Aid concentrate into a 500 ml / 2 cup measuring container.

Add enough water to make 500 ml / 2 cups of liquid and stir.

Pour the mixed liquids into the pot of dry ingredients and combine.

Heat the mixture on the stove on medium heat.

Stirring frequently, cook until the mixture is no longer glossy and the dough forms a ball.

Place the dough on a cutting board.

Knead when cool, adding one more tablespoon of oil.

Store the playdough in a sealed plastic bag until ready to use.

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Put together this watermelon playdough loose parts tray in minutes. It includes homemade playdough recipes you'll want to try.

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To inspire watermelon-themed designs in a play invitation, you can add:

a white basic playdough recipe.
a basic playdough recipe colored with green food coloring.

Note: If you are making playdough for one or two children, this recipe can be halved. Then you will have enough Kool-Aid left to make a watermelon-flavored drink.

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The Watermelon Playdough Tray

Put together this watermelon theme playdough tray today! It's easy to do and is perfect for summer or any time of the year.

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Red, white, pink, black, and green loose parts work well with watermelon playdough. In the tray are pop poms, pebble and diamond-shaped gems, and buttons. Green and red spotted rubber frogs are included because they fit the color scheme! Watermelon slice cookie cutters complete the tray.

When setting up this playdough invitation, you could add black beans to represent watermelon seeds.

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Related: Scented Moon Playdough

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[Read more…]

Scented Moon Playdough

July 29, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This scented moon playdough is the result of a color and flavor mixing science experiment with jello powder. Can you guess which flavors of jello were used?

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The Scented Moon Playdough Recipe

Your child will love to explore space with this moon playdough tray. The homemade playdough is amazing!

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To make a big batch of this steely gray playdough that matches the color of the moon, gather the following supplies:

3 cups flour
1 ½ cups salt
6 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 85-gram package of lime jello powder
2 85-gram packages of grape jello powder
3 cups water
3 tablespoons oil

Add the first three ingredients to a sturdy pot and mix them together.

Boil the water and stir in all three packages of jello powder.

Then stir in two tablespoons of oil.

Add the liquid to the dry ingredients and combine.

Heat the pot on the stove on medium heat.

Stirring frequently, cook the mixture until it is no longer glossy and the dough forms a ball.

Scoop the dough onto a cutting board.

Knead when cool, adding one tablespoon more oil.

Store the playdough in a sealed plastic bag.

Note: The liquid in the pot is very black at first, but when mixed thoroughly with the dry ingredients, the result is gray playdough!

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Scented Moon Playdough Invitation

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Set out the moon playdough in a compartment tray with the following supplies:

star-shaped reusable ice cubes and cookie cutters
glow in the dark moon, stars, and stones
gray and tan gems and rocks
loose parts such as baby bottle collars, buttons, hair ties, and wooden circles
space vehicles and lunar rovers
astronaut figurines

After the playdough has been used a time or two, sprinkle silver glitter and/or foil stars on the dough to extend interest in the play invitation.

This super fun moon playdough is perfect for your space exploration theme. Children participate in a science experiment when they help make the homemade dough.

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Note: This gray scented playdough has a blended grape and lime scent. When I introduced the dough to my preschoolers, I wasn’t sure what they would think. Overall the children felt it smelled pretty nice.

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Colored Light And Moon Playdough

Our moon is mostly hued in lighter and darker grays. But from the earth, we see the moon shine due to reflected sunlight. To us, it often looks bright yellow.

The full moon, which we see once a month, can appear in different colors and sizes. This is due to its position in the sky, the particles in the atmosphere, the amount of air pollution, and the current season.

To see the full moon in a variety of colors, check out a post titled “Colors Of The Moon” by Nasa Science. It features an amazing photo showing different colors our rocky satellite has been viewed and photographed by one astrologer in Italy.

In the home or classroom, a color-changing light is fun to use to illuminate the moon playdough so that it shines in different hues.

Add colored light to the moon playdough invitation as you discuss the colors the moon shines as it reflects light from the sun.

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My featured light shines red, green, purple, blue, and white. Since the moon has been photographed in tones of red, blue, and purple, this lighting isn’t a stretch. Green is a popular color for depicting aliens, and some moon rocks with a green tinge have been discovered. And so the green lighting works too!

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Playdough Dwarf Planets

This scented grey playdough also works as a follow-up activity to a discussion about dwarf planets. These small planets are far away, super icy, and take many years to orbit the sun. Some dwarf planets are:

Pluto: Recently reclassified, it shines red and grey in space and has one big moon named Charon.
Ceres: This dwarf planet is grey and dotted with craters.
Haumea: A grey and egg-shaped dwarf planet with two moons.
Eris: This round dwarf planet takes a half-century to orbit the sun. it is far, far away and has one tiny moon.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Unicorn Playdough Tray

April 5, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Elegant, majestic unicorns provide endless inspiration for clothing, art, cooking, and early learning activities. The single-horned mythical creatures make an appealing subject for a unicorn playdough tray. This pastel and gold-infused tray will surely add a dose of magic to your child’s day!

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following supplies for this fantasy playdough tray:

unicorn figurines
star and unicorn cookie cutters
unicorn table confetti
miniature wood forest and princess shapes
pastel round gems
gold rocks
white compartment tray
neutral and pastel playdough

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Unicorn Playdough Play Tray

Set up this unicorn theme playdough tray in minutes. The best playdough recipes are featured.

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Make a fresh batch of playdough, or use the dough you have on hand. I feature two shades I previously used in a Valentine’s Day playdough tray, and my basic, go-to recipe. These recipes are also included in this post.

Place the unicorn-themed loose parts in a compartment tray, positioning the playdough in the center.

Set the playdough invitation on a table along with rolling pins and other modeling tools for children to enjoy. Watch the magical play unfold.

The best playdough recipes are featured in this fun fantasy unicorn playdough invitation.

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Note: Other loose parts that could be added to this unicorn playdough tray are glitter, a star wand, unicorn hair, flowers, cupcake decorations, pom poms, pipe cleaners, bead garland strips, rainbows, and Easter grass.

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Basic Playdough Recipe

My go-to basic playdough recipe has the following ingredients:

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 cups water
3 tablespoons oil

Add the first three ingredients to a sturdy pot and mix together.

Stir two tablespoons of oil into two cups of water.

Add the water and oil to the dry ingredients and combine.

Heat the pot on the stove on medium heat.

Stirring frequently, cook until the mixture is no longer glossy and the dough forms a ball.

Scoop the dough onto a cutting board.

Knead when cool, adding one tablespoon more oil.

Store the playdough in a sealed plastic bag.

The best playdough recipes are featured in this magical unicorn playdough invitation.

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Jello Playdough

To make deep, pinkish-red strawberry playdough, boil the water and stir in two 85 gram packages of strawberry jello powder. Next, mix in two tablespoons of oil. Add the hot-colored water mixture to the dry ingredients in a pot as above, and finish making the recipe the same way.

To make the pastel blue playdough, use one 85 gram package of blueberry jello.

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Have something special you would add to this unicorn playdough tray? Share in a comment below.

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Related: Unicorn Theme Sensory Play

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[Read more…]

Pet-Themed Playdough Tray

November 20, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky 1 Comment

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This fun-filled pet-themed playdough tray is bound to engage your little learners for a nice chunk of time. It will inspire meaningful conversations and imaginative play, and strengthen little fingers.

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Pet-Themed Playdough Tray Supplies

An inviting supply of cat and dog-themed playdough accessories. Links to three easy-to-make playdough recipes are included.

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Supplies in this playdough added, pet-themed loose parts tray:

cat and dog cookie cutters
cookie cutter bones
dog erasers
eraser bones
dog-themed buttons
miniature pet dish
lattice with bell cat toys

The supplies were gathered from a variety of places. The exquisite cookie cutters were purchased from a store with a generous baking supply section, and the jingly lattice balls and teeny tiny dog-themed buttons from dollar stores. The round dog erasers were salvaged from a book club promotion, and the miniature eraser bones came with a set of Valentine cards.

Super popular with my preschoolers, the dog and cat figurines were gathered from pet sets and a pet adoption game.

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Playdough Recipes

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Warm, earth-toned playdough colors work well with this pet-themed playdough tray.

My preschoolers used the loose parts with a red-orange pumpkin spice playdough, as it was still pretty fresh after our October pumpkin activities. Just to make sure the color was fit for this second topic, I did a quick online search for “orange cats,” and “orange dogs.” Lengthy lists of orange tabby felines and ginger canines came up, so I knew the spicy playdough could have a second life.

View my post “Pumpkin Playdough Activities“ for this aromatic recipe.

You could also offer a batch of my all-time favorite basic playdough or a tangy orange jello dough. And setting out all three hues would provide opportunities for creating patchwork pets, or patterned tabby cats.

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Pet-themed Playdough Play

Invite your early learners to make cookies, bury bones, and create textures and imprints with playdough and pet-themed loose parts.

Cat and dog playdough supplies that encourage creativity and imaginitive play.

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You could swap out or add additional supplies for pet-themed creation. Buttons for animal spots, cut pipe cleaners for whiskers, rope for collars, and wiggle eyes are some suggestions.

Can you think of other accessories to include in this tray? Leave a comment below.

This pet-themed playdough tray is filled with cat and dog supplies little learners will love to imagine and create with.

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[Read more…]

Santa Claus Playdough Tray

December 10, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Fun red and white Santa Claus themed playdough invitation which features oh so soft and aromatic cherry jello playdough.

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This Santa Claus playdough tray is stocked with white and cherry red dough. You’ll want to save this post to have the recipes on hand, as they are oh so soft and aromatic.

Santa Claus is a fun part of Christmas celebrations, and legend has it that he lives at the North Pole. With the help of his elves, he makes toys all year long. He fills a sack with toys on Christmas Eve and delivers them to children all around the world in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer.

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Related: Read a Christmas Santa Claus Story about how the jolly man may have originated on howstuffworks.com.

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Santa-Themed Loose Parts Tray

Santa Claus is most often pictured with a long white beard and red, fur-trimmed clothing. So red and white loose parts are predominant in this collection.

Red and white Santa Claus and reindeer themed loose parts tray.

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The tray includes:

Santa and reindeer erasers
reindeer ring and buttons
red snowflake gems
red and white round gems
various sized white pearl beads
cut-up candy-striped straws
reindeer and stocking cookie cutters
Santa Claus and present-shaped cookie cutters could be added to the tray.

Santa Claus-themed sensory tray with red and white loose parts.

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White Playdough Recipe

My go-to basic playdough recipe (featured in this post) has the following ingredients:

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 cups water
3 tablespoons oil

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Add the first three ingredients to a sturdy pot and mix them together.

Stir two tablespoons of oil into two cups of water.

Add the water and oil to the dry ingredients and combine.

Heat on the stove on medium heat.

Stirring frequently, cook until the mixture is no longer glossy and the dough forms a ball.

Place the dough on a cutting board.

Knead when cool, adding in one more tablespoon of oil.

Store the playdough in a sealed plastic bag.

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Cherry Jello Playdough

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To make the aromatic, deep red cherry jello playdough, boil the water, and stir in two 3 oz / 85-gram packages of cherry jello powder. Next, mix in two tablespoons of oil. Add the hot colored water mixture to the dry ingredients in a pot as above, and finish making the recipe the same way.

Oh so aromatic and soft cherry jello playdough preparation.

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Santa Claus Playdough Invitation

Set out the loose parts on a tray with the red and white playdough. Add rolling pins and more cookie cutters if desired, and watch your little learners create while discussing their perceptions of Santa Claus.