Strawberry jello play dough recipe

My girls say this strawberry jello play dough recipe smells like sweeties and lollipops! The recipe makes a great textured dough which, added to a tray of loose parts, can turn into an afternoon of fantastic creative play.

Strawberry jello play dough recipe

   

We first made up the jello according to the packet instructions – which was great fun and perfect for practicing scissor skills.

Then we adapted the easy play dough recipe and used:

3 cups plain / all purpose flour (more flour than usual as the jello changes the mixture – have some extra in case you need more)

1 cup salt

1 1/2 cups jello liquid

2 tablespoons oil

2 tablespoons cream of tartar

Mix it all together in a large bowl to form a dough, and you’re ready to play

We had three generations of our family joining in this playtime, including Grandma and my one-year-old nephew, who was having his first introduction to the delights of dough!

One of the great things about play dough is that it’s such a versatile material that anyone, of any age, can play and create with it.

I set out a tray of red and pink loose parts:

:: drinking straws

:: painted pasta pieces

:: cup cake cases

:: bottle tops and lids

:: blocks

:: some fridge magnet alphabet letters.

Anything goes really!

The idea with loose parts is to just provide a selection of different and interesting materials, then everyone can dive in and use them however their imagination suggests.

The possibilities are endless! You might make a birthday cake…

or try some printing…

roll out some tracks…

discover that penne makes a fab zigzag shape…

or create a three dimensional sculpture.

Learning with play pough

Whatever the children make with the play dough and loose parts, they will be:

:: expressing their thoughts creatively

:: developing fine motor skills and nimble fingers

:: exploring shapes, dimensions and mathematical ideas

:: benefiting from the sensory pleasure of the dough, which feels and especially smells fantastic

:: joining in a whole group activity but with the opportunity to do their own thing

:: having fun!