A Fun Pasttime

During the summer months (and often during the school year) as parents we often hear those dreaded words “I’m bored!” Most days I hear this I just tell my kids to find something to do. If they can’t seem to do that I then list off things they could do… play outside, color, build a fort, etc. If they seem to not want to do any of that then I start listing off other activities they could do… clean the bathroom, clean the garage, clean their rooms. Normally that is enough to motivate them into finding something to occupy their time.

Still there are sometimes that it is raining or too hot or just really is a boring day and we need to find something that will keep all the kids entertained. Sometimes we opt for a movie when this happens but other times we bring out the tried and true… playdoh.

Making and playing with playdoh is something that the little kids and bigger kids all love to do. There’s something really fun about squishing the clay through your hands and making all kinds of objects for the others to guess at what you are making.

Below you will find a recipe to make your own playdoh. While this isn’t the only recipe out there it is a pretty easy one to follow and make. Have your child measure out the ingredients. Talk about the changes that are happening when you mix things together and then have fun when you have it made! It’s sure to break the boredom in your house as well.

Traditional Playdoh

One cup flour

One cup warm water

2 Teaspoons cream of tartar

1 Teaspoon oil

1/4 Cup salt

Food coloring

Dissolve salt into water. Pour all ingredients into a large pot. Stir constantly over medium heat until a ball forms from the dough pulling away from the sides of pan. Take out of the pan and knead the dough until it’s texture matches playdoh (about 1-2 minutes). Store in an airtight container when not using.

We’d love to see your creations with playdoh if you decide to make some! Post a link in the comments section to your blog where we can see your experiences with homemade (or store bought!) playdoh.

What other ways do you help your kids beat the summer boredom blues?

Michelle can be found writing about her family’s summer fun at her blog, Pass The Flu Bug Please.

This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

chubbycheeks July 20, 2009 at 8:10 am: We just made new play-doh on Friday ;) http://bobandabbies.blogspot.com/2009/07/play-doh-fun.html

denisemayen July 20, 2009 at 9:26 am: My mom used to make play-doh in a crock pot on the kitchen floor. That way, we could see the whole process as kids and even get to help stir with a big wooden spoon when my mom's arms needed a break. This was much more interactive than her making it on the stove-top.

Jenny July 20, 2009 at 8:13 pm: We love playdough as well. Here's a post from January about playdough:

http://ourniftynotebook.blogspot.com/search?q=playdough

Monica@DailyDwelling July 21, 2009 at 12:34 am: We're getting ready to make some play dough right now.

Jenafer July 22, 2009 at 2:46 am: Love this!