The Everything Toddler Activities Book (29 page)

This recipe produces a wonderful modeling dough that does not harden.

Makes 1½ cups

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 10 minutes

½ cup salt

1 cup flour

1 cup water

1 tablespoon cooking oil

1 tablespoon cream of tartar

Food coloring

Mix all ingredients together and cook in a saucepan over a low heat.

Remove from the heat when the mixture starts to clump to resemble mashed potatoes.

While the mixture is cooling, knead in a few drops of food coloring. Store in airtight containers.

Try this variation to make a soft and pliable dough.

Makes 1½ cups

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 20 minutes

1 cup flour

1 tablespoon alum

½ cup salt

1 tablespoon oil

1 cup water

2 tablespoons vanilla

Food coloring

Stir together dry ingredients, then add the oil and water.

Cook over low heat, stirring constantly.

When the mixture reaches the consistency of mashed potatoes, remove from heat.

Let cool, then knead in the vanilla and the food coloring.

Your child will love the unique scent. You can also experiment with other extracts.

Makes 3½ cups

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 10 minutes

2 cups warm water

2 cups flour

1 cup salt

4 teaspoons cream of tartar

4 tablespoons oil

4 tablespoons peppermint extract

Red food coloring

Mix the first six ingredients together. Stir until the dough pulls away from the side of the bowl.

Divide the dough into two balls and knead the red coloring into one ball.

Show your child how to twist and blend the two colors together.

You know that your child is going to put it in her mouth anyway! Please note that honey is not safe for children under the age of one.

Variable Yield

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 10 minutes

1 part peanut butter

1 part nonfat powdered milk

1 teaspoon honey (optional)

Mix all ingredients together.

This dough has a springy texture.

Variable Yield

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 10 minutes

1 part salad oil

6 parts flour

1 part water

Mix the oil and flour together.

Gradually add water until the desired consistency is reached.

This dough has a unique texture. It is edible but does not taste good. In addition, it does not store well, so go ahead and throw it away after your child is done playing.

Makes 2 cups

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 10 minutes

2 cups uncooked oatmeal

1 cup flour

¼ cup water

Mix all the ingredients together. Let your child knead the dough.

You will be surprised at the unique texture of this dough.

Makes 2 cups

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 15 minutes

2 cups baking soda

1½ cups water

1 cup cornstarch

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over a medium heat. Stir until mixture reaches a boil.

When the dough is thick, remove it from the heat and cool it on a flat surface.

Store in airtight containers.

A very popular dough, this looks and smells terrific.

Makes 2 cups

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 10 minutes

1 cup sifted flour

½ cup salt

3 tablespoons oil

1 package Kool-Aid

1 cup boiling water

Mix all the ingredients together. Once the mixture cools, let your child knead the dough.

Here is fun seasonal dough. Be warned that it does not taste as good as it smells!

Makes 2 cups

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 20 minutes

5½ cups flour

2 cups salt

8 teaspoons cream of tartar

¾ cup oil

1 ounce pumpkin-pie spice

Orange food coloring

4 cups water

Mix all the ingredients together over low heat.

Stir constantly until mixture reaches the consistency of mashed potatoes.

Remove from heat. When cool, knead.

Your child will love this dough’s muddy texture.

Makes 2½ cups

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 10 minutes

½ cup cold water

1 tablespoon oil

2 tablespoons brown tempera paint

½ cup salt

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1½ cups flour

Mix the water, oil, and paint together.

Stir in the remaining ingredients and knead together.

This dough has a very nice appearance and texture.

Variable Yield

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 10 minutes

2 parts flour

1 part salt

Water

White tempera paint powder

White glitter

Mix all the flour and salt together.

Gradually add water until you reach the desired consistency.

Sprinkle in the white tempera powder and glitter for color and effect.

This dough is great for fine detailed work. When it dries, it looks like porcelain.

Variable Yield

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 10 minutes

White bread without crust

White craft glue

Food coloring

Let your child shred bread into tiny pieces.

Add glue and have your child knead the dough until it reaches a proper consistency (not too gooey).

Add either bread or glue as needed. Add a few drops of coloring as desired.

The thicker the sculpture, the longer it takes to dry.

Makes 3 cups

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 30 minutes

2 cups baking soda

1 cup cornstarch

1¼ cups cold water

Mix all the ingredients together and cook over a medium heat while stirring constantly.

When mixture reaches the consistency of mashed potatoes, remove from the heat and place on a clean counter or plate.

Cover the clay with a damp cloth until it is cool.

Knead the clay, and mold and sculpt as desired.

This is an unusual clay. Your child can squish and mold it like putty, but it will dry overnight.

Variable Yield

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 10 minutes

1 part toothpaste (not gel)

2 parts white glue

4 parts cornstarch

1 part water

1–2 drops food coloring

Mix toothpaste, glue, and cornstarch together. Gradually add water and food coloring.

You will be amazed at the result of this project.

Makes 3½ cups

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 20 minutes

3 cups dryer lint

2 cups cold or warm water

2⁄3 cup flour

3 drops oil of cloves

Mix the first three ingredients in a saucepan over low heat. Stir constantly to prevent lumps.

Add the oil of cloves. Continue stirring until peaks form.

Remove from heat and let cool. You can shape this by hand or place in molds.

Dry for three or four days.

This clay hardens in the oven.

Makes 3 cups

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 45 minutes

1½ cups flour

1½ cups cinnamon and nutmeg mix

1 cup salt

1 cup water

Holiday cookie cutters

1 straw

Mix all the ingredients together. Add more water if dough is dry and does not hold together.

Have your child knead the dough and then roll it out to a disc ¼ thick.

Show your child how to cut out shapes from the dough using cookie cutters.

Use the straw to poke a small hole in the top of the ornament.

Bake at 300°F for ½ hour or until the ornaments are hard.

Your child can spray this on beach sand or snow.

Makes ½ cup

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 10 minutes

1 cup water

4 tablespoons cornstarch

3 drops food coloring

Mix all the ingredients and put into spray bottles.

This chalk is only for sidewalk use.

Makes 1 stick

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 20 minutes

4 eggshells

1 teaspoon flour

1 teaspoon very hot tap water

Grind clean dry eggshells to a fine powder.

Add 1 tablespoon of this power to the flour and hot water.

Mix until a paste forms.

Roll paste into a cylinder and wrap in waxed paper.

Allow to dry for three days, then remove the paper.

Homemade chalk is cheaper, and creates less dust.

Variable Yield

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 3 hours

2 cups water

2 cups plaster of Paris

2 tablespoons powdered tempera paint

Stir all ingredients in a large bowl and let set for a few minutes.

Spoon the mixture into molds. (Tape one end of a toilet paper tube closed to create a jumbo chalk mold.)

Let chalk dry for at least three hours before removing from the mold.

This project is messy, but the result is nicer than the commercial product. Sometimes this is also called slime or ooze.

Variable Yield

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 15 minutes

2 parts white craft glue or starch

1 part liquid starch

Mix together. If the mixture stays stringy, add a drop of glue. If it’s too brittle, add more starch.

Chill for at least three hours.

Add either glue or starch as needed. Add a few drops of coloring as desired.

This is a messy but fun sensory material.

Variable Yield

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 10 minutes

2 parts cornstarch

1 part water

Let your child use his hands to mix the ingredients together in a shallow bowl or container.

Have him explore what happens when he adds more water or cornstarch.

Mix this up in a large dish bin.

Variable Yield

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 3 hours

2 cups rock salt

6 to 8 drops food coloring

½ cup white craft glue

Waxed paper

Mix the salt and food coloring together.

Add the glue and mix thoroughly.

Mold into gem and jewel shapes.

Set on waxed paper to dry.

Here is a bubble solution that will form more durable bubbles than the solution you buy at the store.

Makes 1½ cups

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 10 minutes

1 cup water

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

4 tablespoons liquid dish soap

Mix all ingredients in a jar or container with a secure lid.

Now your child can make his own stickers, and they will taste good too!

Makes ½ cup

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 30 minutes

2 tablespoons boiling water

1 tablespoon flavored gelatin

Shallow cup or dish

Decorated bond paper or magazine and newspaper clippings

Cotton swabs

Add the boiling water to the gelatin powder; stir until dissolved.

When it is cool, place the mixture in a shallow cup or dish and your child can use it as sticker glue. Stickers can be made of bond paper or even magazine and newspaper clippings. Show him how to use the swabs to paint on the glue.

When the glue is dry, your child can lick and stick the sticker wherever he wants.

It is not hard to make a paste similar to the one you remember from elementary school.

Makes 1½ quarts

Age group: 18–40 months

Duration of activity: 10 minutes