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Salt & Cornstarch PlayDough

This sparkly dough can be used for open ended exploration, or to make small sculptures, bowls, shapes, ornaments, and more. When you’re finished molding, leave the pieces out to dry.

Things you’ll need:

  • 1 cup cornstarch

  • 2 cups salt

  • ⅔ cup water & ½ cup water

  • Food coloring-optional

  • Airtight storage container, or bag

To Make:

  • In a medium sized pot, combine the salt, the ⅔  cup water, and food coloring if desired

  • Heat about 3-4 minutes, low to medium heat, stirring often

  • Remove from heat

  • Add cornstarch and ½ cup water

  • Stir quickly together

  • If the dough seems too thin- carefully heat and stir it a while longer

  • Store in airtight container when not in use

Play Suggestions:

  • For permanent pieces:

    • Glamorize! While dough is soft, firmly push beads, jewels or sequins into the sculpture

    • When dry, paint with acrylic-style paint or decorate with markers

    • To hang-when wet, poke a straw hole at the top. When dry, tie on a piece of ribbon

    • Use as gifts!

  • Open ended exploration:

    • Create textures, using forks, hair combs, potato mashers, bottom of a plastic bottle, etc.

    • Use cookie cutters to create shapes

    • Provide small toys to hide, small trays for “serving”, and spreaders for cutting