| | |

Jello Playdough Recipe for Kids

This scented Jello playdough recipe is beautiful, smooth, and super easy to make. With just a few ingredients, you can make your own playdough at home, and the Jello adds some extra smelly fun to it!

Jello Playdough Recipe for Kids | Modern Homestead Mama

I’m not going to lie – this year we’ve been so overloaded with homeschool activities and family life that I haven’t been as “homemade” as I usually like to be. I’ve been buying things pre-made, including playdough.

Which, if you know me, is really not my style. If I can make something myself, I usually will.

But, it’s been an interesting year. While everyone else is learning how to make bread and preserve their garden harvest for the first time, I sunk back into relying on store-bought materials. Perhaps it’s the pregnancy and achy back. Yeah, let’s go with that.

Back to the playdough – we’ve been buying store-bought playdough for our homeschool activities this year so far, and while my son doesn’t notice the difference, or care in the slightest – I certainly do.

It just feels like a waste. So, for our 5 senses unit this month, I decided to make our own playdough, AND make it scented and fun!

Sure, I could just add some essential oils or some other fragrance to a regular batch of playdough, but where’s the adventure in that?

I’ve seen Jello playdough before, and took this as a perfect opportunity to try it out, so we could discuss our sense of smell, touch, and sight!

WHILE YOU’RE PLANNING YOUR 5 SENSES THEME:

5 Senses Activities & Crafts We’ve Done at the Moore Homestead:

You can check out my tagged photos on Instagram to see other families following my unit studies, including my fabulous 5 Senses unit!

For tips on planning your homeschool preschool year, check out this article

Join the Homeschooling Preschoolers Facebook Page! There are free resources available, and it’s the perfect way to connect with other families!

Jello Playdough Recipe for Kids

Jello Playdough Recipe for Kids

This recipe was not particularly hard to make, but it was a bit time consuming. I had it in my head that I could whip up a batch and have them out for my kids to play with all in the same hour, and that’s just not the reality. I would recommend assuming that this will take up an afternoon, and be ready to play with that evening, or even – the following day.

Jello Playdough Recipe for Kids

How to Make Jello Playdough

Jello Playdough Ingredients (Per Batch):

  • 1 pack of Jello
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup salt
  • 1 tbsp cream of tartar
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil

Directions for Jello Playdough:

1. In a medium saucepan, bring the water and vegetable oil to a boil. 

2. In a separate bowl, add all dry ingredients and mix.

3. Remove boiling water from the heat, and pour over dry ingredients.

4. Using a spatula, stir the mixture until a dough forms. 

5. Place dough on floured work space and repeat until all batches (colors) are complete.

6. Once the dough has cooled, add as much flour as you need to knead and bring the dough completely together until it’s no longer sticky. I added up to 1/2 cup more flour to each color! It really was like kneading bread dough.

Store your Jello playdough in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

Some recipes mix all ingredients on the stovetop, but I figured this would be messier, and unnecessary. This way, I was able to wipe out the mixing bowl in between each batch so the colors didn’t mix too much, instead of cleaning out the pot each time.

Jello Playdough Recipe for Kids

Jello Playdough Recipe for Kids

Jello Playdough Recipe for Kids

If you liked this post, don’t forget to pin it for later:

Jello Playdough Recipe for Kids | Modern Homestead Mama

Sharing is caring!

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.