50 Simple Ideas for Fun with Play Dough

Decorate with Play Dough

Glitter
Sequins
Buttons
Uncooked beans, lentils, and peas
Funky colors (Wilton sells every color imaginable)
Feathers
Tiny polished rocks
Uncooked rice (can color)
Beads
Yarn or string
Sea shells (see sand play dough below)
Pom poms
Paints
Uncooked pasta
Flowers – artificial and real
Dry cereal – brightly colored flakes and o’s
Sprinkles
Paint (or use extra food coloring to make swirls)
Felt – different colored shapes
Broken crayon pieces
Tinsel or Easter grass

Imagine with Play Dough

Pipe cleaners – make great legs
Googly Eyes
Fresh herbs (recipe via Imagination Tree)
Sand play dough (recipe via Imagination Tree)
Chocolate play dough (recipe via Imagination Tree)
Cupcake liners
Lego people
Toy kitchen sets (or real items from the kitchen like measuring spoons and plastic bowls)
Cloud play dough (recipe via Flights of Whimsy)
Cookie Dough Play Dough

Shape with Play Dough

Cookie cutters
Plastic knives, spoons, and forks
Toy cars and trucks (use to make tire treads)
Rubber stamps
Cake decorating bags and tips (you may want to add a little bit more water to the dough.)
Toothpicks (decorative ones are great)
Leaves or small branches – to make nature impressions
Any plastic toy with a distinct shape (toy keys, pretend food, etc.)
Rolling pin (or anything that can be used like one!)
Old lace or doilies with a rolling pin

Themes with Play Dough

Pizza parlor – use herb dough and felt shapes or other items for toppings
Sweet Shop (via Imagination Tree)
Mini Town – use lego people and small cars
Tea party – use a toy tea party set and serve up some tea treats (see my Play Dough Tea Party post)
Beach – use sand play dough, shells, lego people, and mini rubber fish or Goldfish cheese crackers
Crazy creatures – use googly eyes, paint, glitter, pipe cleaners, and feathers
Seasonal – make the best Valentine hearts, Easter eggs, or Christmas ornaments by adding glitter, sequins, and other decorations.
Cupcakes – use cupcake liners, icing decorating bags, and sprinkles add candles for a birthday party
Educational – make letters with cookie cutters or free form, use measuring spoons to study fractions
Fireworks – roll out the play dough mixed with sequins and glitter and use plastic forks to draw firework shapes (via Pre-School Play)

Homemade is easy and cheap to make. With play dough this affordable, you can mix your play dough with all sorts of sensory items and let your children mix the colors as much as they want! I normally use this recipe:

Play Dough Recipe

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 T. oil
1 cup water
food coloring

Mix all ingredients in a sauce pan over medium heat. Stirring constantly cook until thick. Spoon out dough onto a heat resistant surface and cool until warm (usually I burn myself at this point because I’m inpatient!). Knead mixture until smooth. Store in an air-tight container.

Update: You also may be interested in my Skin Therapy Play Dough. This recipe is a low salt, no cook recipe that is quickly becoming my favorite recipe!

Want more play dough recipes? This is where I do my play dough window shopping: Anna @ The Imagination Tree

Want more inspiration? Check out my Play Dough Pinterest Board: