If you're looking for a lovely sensory experience for your children this Christmas, then you'll love making this recipe for gingerbread playdough.
It's full of the spices of Christmas and is perfect for pretend play with gingerbread cookie cutters, using as a manipulative in the classroom, and for a real-life lesson in measurement.
Whenever we can tie in the different senses, of smell and touch, we instantly make learning more memorable.
Children can't resist playdough. Not even teenagers can! So if you'd like to take playdough to the next level, try this gingerbread variation.
Ingredients you'll need:
- 1c flour
- 1/2 salt
- 1 tbsp ginger
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp mixed spice
- 2 tsp cream of tartar
- 1c water
- 1 tbsp oil
How to make the gingerbread playdough:
Grab a mixing bowl and add the ingredients to your bowl.
The order doesn't matter as it'll all get mixed together.
Mix the ingredients with a wooden spoon.
You can use a whisk to mix in any lumpy bits.
Pour this mixture into a pan and cook on a medium temperature until the dough comes together.
Don't worry if it starts to get lumpy, this will eventually all pull together.
Keep turning it over so that all the moist parts dry out.
When it is a solid dough, remove it from the pan and knead it into a smooth ball.
Leave it to cool a little before your children start playing with it.
Then it's time to add your accessories. You could add cookie cutters, butter knives, rolling pins, beads, and so on.
What do I do if the playdough is too dry?
You can add a little bit of oil and knead it in to soften it.
What do I do if the playdough is too wet?
It's best to cook it well by pressing the surface down, rolling it over, and pressing it down. This ensures that it isn't sticky when it comes out. But you could also add a little more flour and knead it in.
How to store your playdough:
Playdough needs to be keep in an airtight container or zip lock bag so that it doesn't dry out.
How long does playdough last?
Playdough will last two or three weeks if it's been kept in a container, but if you notice it getting fluff through it or it's becoming too dried out, toss it and make a new batch.
Can playdough go into the compost bin?
Because playdough has a high salt content, I don't recommend putting this into your home compost bin as it will be harmful to your worms.
I hope your children love this playdough, and I'm sure you won't be able to resist playing with it too!
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