Who doesn’t love playdough? Kids love its squishy texture and endless possibilities. But, the stuff at the store can seem toxic, although it has been non-toxic since it’s launch a million years ago. Still, as a Brooklynite, there’s nothing more satisfying to me than making something that you can easily buy at the store for cheap. It’s fun to see how things work and how they’re made. Is it just me? I don’t think so. This is great experiment that the kids can do with you, learning about chemistry along the way and having something totally cool to play with after.

So, here’s a rainy day activity for you and your kiddos. I say rainy day but what I mean is snowy day, cold day, humid day, tired day, hot day, boring day or any other day, really. This DIY playdough recipe is awesome! It’s easy to make and fun for the whole family. This could even be a great party favor for your kid’s next birthday. Just sayin.

Perfect DIY Playdough Recipe

• 2.5 cups of water
• 1 1/4 c. of salt
• 1 1/2 tbsp. of cream of tartar
• 5 tbsp. of vegetable oil
• 2.5 cups of flour
• Food coloring or liquid watercolors. I really like gel food coloring because of its intense pigmentation and lack of moisture so it doesn’t make the dough too mushy.

Mix everything except the food coloring in a large pot until almost smooth. It will be a little lumpy. Don’t fret, it’ll get smoother as it cooks. Cook the dough on low heat. Stir a lot, don’t let it sit. The water will cook out of the mixture over time and you’ll see it take on a dough-like look. Mix until the edges of the dough along the side and bottom of the pan look dry. Pinch a piece of dough. If it’s not gooey, the dough is ready.

Place the dough on a counter top or large cutting board that can withstand a little food coloring. Knead the warm dough until it’s smooth and then separate it into however many piles of colors that want to make. Flatten them each into a disc, add some food coloring, and knead it until the color is evenly spread. Keep kneading in more coloring until you get the shades that you want.

You can store it in a large Ziplock bag or sealed container between uses. If you don’t use it right away and just keep it in a ziplock bag, it’ll keep for months.

Courtesy of TinkerLab the raddest blog of kid activities that I’ve found to date. Check her out and follow her on your favorite social media network. “For play dough tool ideas, you can read this post from last year.” Your kids will thank you later!