Making Play-Doh: Training Your Child To Be the Next Michaelangelo

Many parents face the problem of having fun activities to do with their children. There are plenty of fun things to do with your kids outside, but it's a lot harder to have fun with a hyperactive child on a rainy day or a day spent inside. If your child likes to use his or her hands, there's one activity that is as much fun to make as it is to play with, Play-Doh! Play-Doh is easy to make, and it provides hours of safe, non-toxic fun for your child. It was created in 1956, and since its creation, children around the world have gotten endless satisfaction from the stuff. (Note: the creators of Play-Doh insist that though it is non-toxic, you should not let your child ingest Play-Doh. For an activity that brings out your child's creativity and improves their direction-taking abilities, follow these simple instructions. First, get these ingredients (you probably already have them in your kitchen):

2 cups plain flour
1 cup salt
1 tablespoon cream of tartar
2 tablespoons cooking oil
2 cups boiling water (approx.)
1-2 teaspoons food coloring

Once you've obtained all of these ingredients, you're ready to start making Play-Doh. Make sure that your child washes his or her hands before helping you with the recipe (it's suggested that you let your child help you with the creation of the Play-Doh). First, sift all of the dry ingredients together thoroughly. Once you've done that, mix the oil, water, and food coloring together as evenly as possible. Next, add the wet ingredients to the dry ones gradually until they form a soft, dough-like substance. Surprisingly, that's all that you need to do besides store it in a container in your fridge. This recipe came from www.mssscrafts.com, where you can find plenty of crafts to do with your kids.