Play Dough Recipes and Mats

Below you will find play dough recipes to use at home, in your preschool or school. We have also provided a link to our subitising play dough mats although we do have a variety to purchase. Try out one of the recipes for something a little different or try them all! Play dough keeps quite well if it is wrapped in plastic and stored in the fridge.

Note of warning: Some children have allergies. Check these before creating play dough. Never use peanut oil...just in case. Stick to the basic mixes if you have play dough munchers - some of the fresh ingredients should not be eaten.

Easy Play Dough

Ingredients

• 1 cup cold water
• 1 cup salt
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 3 cups flour
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• Tempera paint or food colouring (amount depends on colour desired)

Directions:

1. Mix the water, salt, oil, and paint or food colouring.
2. Put 1/2 teaspoon of colour in at a time—increasing the quantity if needed to make a vibrant, richer colour.
3. Gradually work in the flour and cornstarch until you get the consistency of bread dough.
4. Store in a zip-lock bag or airtight container so play dough will last a long time.

Silky Play Dough

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp of bicarbonate of soda
• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 1 cup plain flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 3 tablespoons (any) oil (except peanut)
• 2 cups boiling water
• Food colouring ( amount depends on colour desired)

Directions:

1. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Add the oil, mixing to form rough breadcrumbs.
3. Next, add the boiling water and once combined knead the ingredients on a clean surface until they form the silky dough.
4. Set aside the dough and cover your clean workbench with cling wrap.
5. Divide silky dough into even portions for colouring.
6. Put 1/2 teaspoon of colour in at a time—increasing the quantity if needed to make a vibrant, richer colour.
7. Store in a zip-lock bag or airtight container so play dough will last a long time.

Rubbery Play Dough

Ingredients:

• 2 cups baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup cornstarch

Directions:

1. Mix all the ingredients together with a fork in a saucepan until the mixture is smooth and one solid colour.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat until thick and smooth.
3. Place the cooked mixture on waxed paper.
4. Allow to cool and it’s ready to go. Add colouring and mix through.
5. Store in a zip-lock bag or airtight container so play dough will last a long time.

This play dough is extra rubbery and stronger. This kind of play dough is often used to help young kids improve their fine motor skills and gripping strength.

Cinnamon Play Dough

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp of bicarbonate of soda
• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 1 cup plain flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons (any) oil (not peanut)
• 2 cups boiling water

Directions:

1. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Add the oil, mixing to form rough breadcrumbs.
3. Next, add the boiling water and once combined knead the ingredients on a clean surface until they form the silky dough.
4. For a more sensory play dough try crumbling a cinnamon stick and knead into the dough.
5. Store in a zip-lock bag or airtight container so play dough will last a long time.

Herb Play Dough

Ingredients

• 1 tsp of bicarbonate of soda
• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 1 cup plain flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 tablespoons chopped rosemary or lavender
• 2 tablespoons (any) oil (except peanut)
• 1 tablespoon fragrant oil, rosemary, lemon myrtle, tea tree, lavender
• 2 cups boiling water
• Food colouring ( amount depends on colour desired)

Note: This one is not recommended if you have play dough eaters.

Directions

1. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Add the oils, mixing to form rough breadcrumbs.
3. Next, add the boiling water and once combined knead the ingre­dients on a clean surface until they form the silky dough.
4. Set aside the dough and cover your clean workbench with cling wrap to protect from colouring.
5. Add food colouring. Put 1/2 teaspoon of colour in at a time-increasing the quantity if needed to make a vibrant, richer colour.
6. Work colour in by rolling and knead­ing the dough.
7. Store in a zip-lock bag or airtight container so play dough will last a long time.

Orange and Lemon Play Dough

Ingredients

• 1 tsp of bicarbonate of soda
• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 1 cup plain flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 teaspoons lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 2 tablespoons (any) oil (not peanut!)
• Food colouring (amount depends on colour desired) Option 1
• 1 tablespoon fragrant lemon or orange oil
• 2 cups boiling water

Option 2

• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1 and 1/2 cups boiling water

Directions:

1. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl and add zest.
2. Add the oils, mixing to form rough breadcrumbs.
3. Next, add the boiling water and/or lemon juice. Once com­bined knead the ingredients on a clean surface until they form the silky dough.
4. Set aside the dough and cover your clean workbench with cling wrap to protect the bench from staining from the colouring.
5. Add yellow and red food colouring to make orange or just use yellow.
6. Work colour in by rolling and kneading the dough. Put 1/2 teaspoon of colour in at a time-increasing the quantity if need­ed to make a vibrant, richer colour.
7. Store in a zip-lock bag or airtight container in the fridge.

Note: the zest may go brown over time. This one is best not kept for too long.

Play Dough Mats

Subitising/subitizing or recognising numbers in groups is very important in early maths. Subitising means to quickly identify numbers and is an important part of early math education. The ability to visualise and understand numbers and numeracy will lead to operational fluency, the ability to add and subtract mentally, to see relationships between numbers, and the ability to see patterns. 

Subitising comes from the Latin word meaning suddenly.

Use our playdough mats to help children with this skill. Purchase your play dough mats by clicking on the image below.