It’s inexpensive, fun to make, non-processed and an all time favourite….play dough!

Why make your own play dough? Aside from being a lot of fun and actively engaging your kids in an activity, traditional Play-doh includes a petroleum-based additive (that gives it that waxy feel). A petroleum-free homemade play dough is safer and environmentally preferred as petroleum is a finite resource. Plus, you can opt for more eco-friendly ingredients such as organic flour and tea, in order to minimise the potential dangers of pesticide exposure found in traditional farming practices.

On your next rainy day, ask your kids to help you mix up their own play dough with naturally based colors for hours of sculpture making fun with this easy recipe.

Use cookie cutters, cups, bowls, and kid-safe cutting tools to shape your play dough, and for lighter coloured dough, you can imprint newspapers and non-glossy magazines.

While non-toxic and safe, we don’t recommend eating it!

To make play dough you will need:

- 3 cups of flour (organic is best or combine brown rice flour and maize flour to make it gluten free)

- 1.5 cups of salt

- 6 tsp cream of tartar

- 3 tbs oil

- 3 cups chamomile tea

- Optional: flowers, sand, turmeric and essential oils for colour, texture and scent (see below).

Natural Colour suggestions

- Orange: a generous helping of paprika produces a beautiful orange

- Blue: 1 ½ cups of blueberries gives play dough a dark vibrant blue

- Pink/Fuchsia: 1 cup beets or beetroot juice

- Green: mix 1 cup blueberries with 2 tbsp turmeric

Experiment with food and come up with great colours of your own!

Step by step instructions



Dissolve salt in hot tea on the stove or in a microwave oven.



Pour all ingredients into a large pot.

Stir constantly over medium heat until a ball forms, pulling away from the sides.

Knead the dough mixture until smooth.

Add any extra colours, scents or textures you desire.

Store in an airtight container and remoisten if it begins to dry out. Homemade play dough should last for many months.



