[Bassette]

Well, it looks like it is time to invest in some clay for Mini Moo. Today he molded his string cheese into a car. He was so proud! Then he molded it into what he assured me was a bird. Again so proud, but by then the cheese was crumbling, dirty and needed to be tossed. He was bummed and fussed about having to toss the dying cheese. *LOL*

Can you get clay at regular stores like Toys-R-Us and Walmart or do you have to purchase it at an educational store? Oh and one more thing,.....are there any particular ingredients in clay that are no-nos for toddlers? He may decide to mold his own lunch one day.

[pwnort64]

How about play-doh?

Amazing how they can create anything out of anything. Henry was eating toast this morning and found that he could make it stand up on the edge. He then said 'choo-choo'. So, silly me, I asked him if his toast looked like a choo-choo train. He said "No Mama, it's a boat".

[MkMw]

you can get regular play doh at target, wally world - any of those,

I picked up 4 colors (not playdoh brand) for $1 at our local dollar store just before Christmas .

And, I've made some - I like the homemade stuff better because it's softer. I can send you the recipe - it's edible, but not tasty. I also have one made with peanut butter around here somewhere .... I haven't tried it though!

[Bassette]

My experience with playdoh is that is it messy, tends to dry quickly and the colors easily mix. Perhaps it has improved over the years. I'm open to opinions on playdoh vs. clay. I gather that Kiran would like to play with his creations and maybe clay would hold up better. I dunno.

[EmmyLee]

Hi Steph. Playdoh has changed a lot. It will dry out fast (that is days, not hours or minutes) if left uncovered. However, it cleans up really easily and the fact it drys so well makes getting it out of clothes and the carpets really easy. Sounds like you have a future sculptor on your hands!

[KellyMigoya]

Clay is harder to mold. I hate both but like Playdo because it is cheap and I just throw it away after they are done playing with it. I also make them play with it outside and on top of something I can throw away.
Clay has been harder for me to get out of their clothes.
You can always just make the homemade stuff out of salt, flour and water and add a little food coloring if you want.

[becky]

I personally like clay, but it is a thicker, harder substance...which is great for really helping develop those fine motor skills in the hands. But it will certainly dry up on you too if you aren't careful, and the colors will mix as well.

I love homemade playdough....do a google search for the recipe...I add a package of kool-aid to mine to make it a bright color and give it a wonderful smell. It's an awesome thing to make together. Of course I have to remind Bella not to eat it, because it doesn't taste nearly as good as it smells!

I bought a bunch of $1 rolling pins at target and some inexpensive cookie cutters that are only for playdough. Bella plays with it almost every day.

[sugarbabysmommy]

If I were you I'd do play doh first. It does mix easily, but he probably won't care. You can always do what I do, the two color play, pick two colors that make a nice color when mixed, or even three colors- choosing ones that are next to eachother on the color wheel. Yes, mommy has color issues and doesn't like to play with muddy play doh. We make things and play with them for a couple of hours, mommy is not allowed to smash any of the things (pigs, birds etc.), but in typical kid hypocrisy, babe is allowed to smash everything .

When it comes to kids, I've never seen a clay that wasn't messy. They manage to make the smallest little crumbs and blobs out of anything squishy.

When your kid gets a little older Scupley might be fun, it's also much more expensive. It does carry a good safety rating for children, something to consider with polymer clays. You can read about it on Sculpey's web site.

[deguatmom]

Steph - I don't have any advice, since I haven't used either yet with John. I did buy Playdoh for him, but all he does is stack the cans and then knock them down with his cars, hands, feet, guys, really anything will do as long as they go flying...

Kiran sounds VERY talented I'm sure whichever you try he will enjoy.

[KellyMigoya]

Gotta love that Target $1.00 bin!!

[becky]

They have the cutest valentine gift bags for $1. I bought a ton of them last week...some had hearts, but others were just striped and you can use them year round for birthday wrapping. My kids seem to go to two birthday parties a week. I have started stocking up on 9 year old boy and 4 year old girl toys every time I see something on sale anywhere. I just keep it all in a closet until I need a birthday present!

[KellyMigoya]

I did the same thing!!

[Bassette]

I guess another concern would be staining. I don't foresee using homemade recipes until Kiran is a bit older. When I was a child I used to make homemade playdoh all the time. I had a blast. I also used the homemade concoction to make gifts. Again, fun fun fun.

Any feedback on staining? Is one better than the other?

[echaos]

Wow Steph,

Was this thread ever timely today!

I got home from work and Hilary and Liam had made 2 batches of homemade dough this afternoon. It looked like so much fun I made a batch!!!

It's just as soft as the real stuff, and once the colour is mixed in it doesn't seem to stain! Keep in mind we've only had it for a couple of hours!!

Here's the recipe:

1 cup water
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 cup salt
1 tbsp cream of tarta
1 cup flour
food colouring

Combine water, oil, salt and cream of tarter in a saucepan and heat until warm
Remove from heat and add flour.
Stir, then knead until smooth.

Now the actual recipe adds the colouring to the water in the pot, but that means that one recipe is all one colour.

We divided a recipe into four and kneaded the colour into it, and even left one white. It does stain your hands/counter doing it this way (if you've ever worked with food colouring, you know what I mean) but it does let you get different colours!

The cream of tartar makes this dough long lasting, up to six months or more, so even though you can skip it, it's better to go buy some.

This dough should be stored in airtight containers or zippered freezer bags.

1 recipe made the equivalant of 4 large play d'oh containers.

[Bonitabonita]

Wow Andy - nice colors! I'm buying food coloring tomorrow. We have boring old dough-colored homemade play-doh . . . but not after tomorrow!