No-Bake Play Dough Recipe!

This playdough recipe is a fun and functional way to introduce kids to tactile play, while also targeting fine motor skills and bilateral coordination. This recipe does not call for any stovetop work so kids can help with all steps of making it!

From an occupational therapy perspective, playdough is a great way to target kids’ fine motor skills in various ways including having them open the kool-aid packages, twist the cap on/off the oil bottle, and open the salt container. Also, having them stir the ingredients together is a great way to target bilateral coordination by having them hold the bowl with one hand and stir with their other hand. 

From a speech therapy perspective you can practice your child's speech sounds while following directions. This recipe is also great for the child to practice sequencing. After the playdough is made then you can make it into various shapes that contain the target sound. For example, if your child is working on S then you could make a snake, snail, or smiley face. 

Recipe from Kristine Lamb https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Kool-Aid-Dough-Visual-Recipe-FREEBIE-3754074

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup flour 
  
• ¼ cup salt
  
• ¾ cup warm water
  
• 2 packets of Kool-aid
  
• 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
  

Steps: 

1. First, add flour and salt into a bowl 
   
2. Add in warm water, oil, and 2 packages of kool-aid and mix
   
3. Finish by mixing with hands! 
   
4. Store in an airtight bag to keep fresh
   

If the mixture is too sticky add a little more flour and oil until the mixture is binding and no longer sticking to finger.
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Once the dough is made the child can use cookie cutters to create various shapes, or they can practice their name by rolling pieces of the dough into letters!

Blog written by: Katie Voorhis, Occupational Therapy Student