The Best Homemade Playdough Recipe: non-toxic and taste safe
As a new mom, the thought of brightly colored playdough staining every surface of my home made me want to ban this activity from my home. Ha! Thankfully, I found a fun, fast recipe that cleans up easily, is made of food products (non-toxic!) and lasts a very long time!

I hope you love this recipe as much as we do. You can add color to it naturally through herbs or food coloring or just leave it plain (that’s what we do).
Adding a drop or two of your favorite essential oils makes it a sensory experience that kids love. We enjoy adding 1-2 drops of lavender essential oil to a batch of playdough.
Depending on how many children are playing, you may want to double or triple the “recipe.”
Usually when 2 children are playing with one batch, they are happy. But when all three of my children are playing, I like to have 2 batches made so their imagination can really soar.
No need to get expensive brand-name playdough toys to use with your homemade playdough. See what you have in your kitchen and around the house!
Developmental Benefits of Playdough for Children
You know what I love about playdough? It’s not just a fun activity for kids—it’s actually amazing for their development too!
When kids squish, roll, and shape playdough, they’re strengthening the tiny muscles in their hands and fingers. These fine motor skills are super important for things like learning to write, use scissors, and even tie their shoes later on.
Plus, just the act of manipulating playdough gives them a chance to explore textures, practice hand-eye coordination, and develop better control over their movements. It’s such a simple activity with big benefits.
Another thing I’ve noticed is how playdough sparks creativity and imagination. It’s like giving kids a blank canvas, but instead of paints or crayons, they get to work with something they can mold into anything they dream up.
One day they’re making pizzas, and the next, it’s dinosaurs or tiny snowmen.
This open-ended play helps them think creatively and solve problems as they figure out how to shape their ideas into reality.
And honestly, it’s so sweet to see the pride on their faces when they show off their little creations!
Playdough can be incredibly soothing for kids. The repetitive motions of squishing and rolling can help them calm down when they’re feeling frustrated or overstimulated.
It’s also a great way for them to express emotions they might not have the words for yet. Whether they’re poking holes in it or carefully crafting something special, they’re letting out energy in a constructive way.
So really, playdough isn’t just play—it’s a tool that helps kids grow in so many ways, all while having a blast!

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Playdough Book!
These playdough mats are so fun and easy! With themes like animals, shapes, and food, they spark creativity and build fine motor skills. Just print, laminate (or use page protectors), and let the kids play. Perfect for rainy days, homeschooling, or a quick break for you. Sign up to grab yours and make playtime a breeze!

Favorite Toys and Items for Playdough:
- Cookie cutters
- Rolling pin
- Tupperware
- Play kitchen toys
- These plastic kids kitchen knives – they are great for real cutting too!
- Bowls
- Plates
- Small toy trucks
- Small toy animals/characters
Kitchen Helper
One of my favorite things is having my children around – but let’s be honest, sometimes it can complicate things, especially in the kitchen. Que the playdough!
When I’m getting ready to cook or bake, I’ll ask my toddler if he wants to play playdough while momma cooks. The answer is usually, YES!
So, the next time you are chopping and mixing, pull out the playdough and some kitchen items for your kiddos. They’ll be happily busy and you’ll get to cook without (too many) interruptions. 😉
Ingredients you’ll need to make Homemade Playdough
- Water
- Flour
- Salt
- Cream of Tartar
- Oil (I use Olive oil or Avocado)
- Essential oils (optional)
- Food coloring (optional)
Simply add all of the ingredients to a medium saucepan and turn the heat to medium low.
It’ll be a bit of a mess until all of the ingredients are combined and start to cook.
Then you’ll start to use your muscles because it gets thick and harder to stir.
Continue to stir/knead with a spoon until all of the ingredients are combined and no longer sticky.
Place on a glass plate or wood cutting board (avoid plastic) until it’s cooled to the touch.

Storing your Playdough
When the children are done playing, put the playdough in a plastic bag. It’ll keep for several weeks and even up to 2 months!
I love this recipe because it stays soft for so long. I hope your children spend many happy hours creating and imagining with this homemade playdough recipe!
When you try this recipe for homemade playdough, come back and let me know what you think in the comments below!

Homemade Playdough
Equipment
- Medium Sauce pan
- 1 Wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 1 cup Flour
- 1 cup Water
- 2 tsp Cream of Tartar
- 1/3 cup Salt
- 1 tbsp Oil
Instructions
- Simply add all of the ingredients to a medium saucepan and turn the heat to medium low. It'll be a bit of a mess until all of the ingredients are combined and start to cook
- Continue to stir/knead with a spoon until all of the ingredients are combined and no longer sticky.
- Place on a glass plate or wood cutting board (avoid plastic) until it's cooled to the touch.
- Store playdough in a Ziplock bag when completely cooled.