Today I made play dough. I kind of made up the recipe after finding about 20 variations online but it turns out it is a bit of a no brainer. For any of my Mummy friends reading this here is what I did.

I put 2 tbsp of salt and 2 tbsp of oil in a saucepan on a low heat with a teaspoon of almond essence. Then I added a mug of water and a mug of plain flour. I just stirred it until it looked like dough (it kind of needs to cook a bit in the pan as it starts off quite runny) and took it off the heat. Once it was cool enough to handle (use some extra flour if it is a bit sticky) I divided it up into balls and coloured them with food colouring. Whilst I was doing it I had given A&E a shoe box I had cut holes in and a bunch of blocks so they could post them through the holes. It kept them occupied for the whole play dough making.

The almond essence is an essential part of the process. I really remember the smell of play dough when I was little and it was the almond essence that did it. There is something very special about fresh warm play dough and it’s lovely smell.

Arthur and Elliott played with it for an hour. I improvised what they could use as tools but they didn’t seem to mind what they used. Elliott liked making things out of his play dough. I asked him what he was making at one point and he said ‘hat’ then put his creation on his head. Arthur liked squishing it flat and making lots of different marks in it. He loved my icing nozzle for making big circles on one end and stars on the other.

They didn’t try and eat it which surprised me. Especially as it smelled so nice. They seem to have grown out of the eating everything phase some time ago. Though I do on occassion find Arthur looking guilty whilst harbouring a tiny farmyard animal in his mouth.

So play dough saved a rainy morning and soft play land saved a rainy afternoon. I always find it is a bit harder being stuck indoors as you have to make twice the entertainment. Hopefully I will make it outside tomorrow.