Gluten-Free Playdough Recipe

Mixing a little bit of this with a little bit of that to create a recipe of your own is one of the things that will impress children. Favorite toysIt only takes a few minutes. My children loved playdough as kids, and even my youngest still loves it. I created this gluten-free version of playdough for squishy, sensory play.

Why Make Gluten-Free Playdough at Home?

Play-Doh sold in stores is marketed as non-toxic. While it may be true that eating small amounts of the stuff won’t immediately harm your child, there are still ingredients in there that make me nervous. And there’s always that one kid who likes eating handfuls of non-food items at craft time.

It’s hard to find an exact ingredient list since each company has its own proprietary blend. You can find out what’s in the patent by doing a simple web search. Playdough contains wheat flour, synthetic fragrances, colors and a petroleum-based additive. BoraxAnd preservatives to name just a few.

All moms will tell you, children explore the world with their mouths. Why should they behave differently when playing with playdough then? They’re going to taste it. And even if they didn’t, the skin is the largest organ on the body. All that squeezing, squishing, and pressing is conducive to absorption.

Hasbro, makers of Play-Doh advises to also call your vet if you dog eats it.

The Gluten-Free version

Many children are sensitive. artificial dyesAnd fragrances. Plus an increasing number have wheat allergies, celiac disease, or gluten sensitivity. Commercial doughs are not suitable for children on a gluten-free dietary plan.

You can buy pre-made options of playdough, such as This gluten-free and allergy-free product one. You can also make your own! It’s so simple and can be made with things you probably already have in your pantry.

If you’re still Cleaning out your pantry of all the “food” you shouldn’t be eating, you can use flour and table salt to make play dough. You can also use this recipe to eliminate some of the vegetable oils from your pantry. Gluten-free playdough can be an excellent option for those with gluten intolerance.

Playdough is a great way to get your kids involved in the fun.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics children spend on average 7 hours per day in front of screens. There’s been extensive research done on what this does to the brain, including degradation and shrinkage of the various lobes in the brain.

I’ve seen what too much “screen time” does to my children. After a two-hour movie I’ve noticed a decrease in temper, increased whining and a lack of imagination. Kids generally have more active imaginations than adults, but like with anything else, you can lose the ability for imaginative play if you don’t use it.

The easiest way to remedy this is by playing more! Children are highly tactile. If you’ve ever taken little ones to the store and felt like a broken record with the constant stream of “don’t touch” and “put that back” then you know exactly what I am talking about. Playdough can be irresistible.

It is a unique way to encourage imagination. Pots and pans encourage kitchen play and dolls prompt little ones to “play house”. Playdough, however, is a blank canvas. It’s squishy, moldable, and flexible, and kids can form it into virtually anything they want. It’s marketed as a toy but there are many beneficial effects that can come from playing with it.

Playdough: Why Children Should Play With It

• Exercises in imagination – Playdough requires kids to use their imagination. Playdough can start out as a ball, which then transforms into a snowman. It could also become a cow and end up as a Dragon. There are no rules, which allows each child to create what they see in their mind’s eye.
• Improves fine motor skills – Squeezing and shaping playdough helps strengthen children’s hand muscles. This is a great way to develop fine motor skills such as cutting. WritersYou can also manipulate small objects.
• Calming, soothing and calming – If you watch a child play with playdough it becomes apparent how calming it can be. It’s like a stress ball for relieving tension and pent-up energy. You can even balance your mood by adding essential oils!
• Encourages focussed play – Squishing DIY playdough also satisfies the fidget bug so many children have. This helps them better focus on what they’re doing. The focus is on the dough manipulation, and not other activities that might distract them.
• It’s interactive – “Look at what I made!” “Can you make a … ?” “Watch what I can do.” The ever changing aspect of playdough creates interaction between peers and family and fosters curiosity and collaborative play.

Playdough is a favorite activity of ours for children. homeschool room as well. This version must be cooked in the oven, as there are no recipes for cooking on the stove. I’ve found that rice flour is stickier than wheat flour so cooking helps reduce the stickiness.

You’ll want to store this in an airtight container. Silicone bags are a great alternative to glass containers for kids. They aren’t breakable but they’re a better option than plastic bags!

Playdough Recipe at Home

You can make playdough with rice flour in under 10 minutes. Gluten free, dye free, allergen free.

Yield

Instructions

• Mix the dry ingredients together in a medium-sized saucepan.

• Add the coconut oils, food coloring and water.

• Mix with a wooden or silicone spoon.

• Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously for 3 to 5 minutes until it forms into a ball.

• Turn the ball onto parchment paper and remove from heat.

• Once the ball is cool enough to handle knead it for a few minutes, until it becomes smooth.

• Keep in an airtight container.

Notes

Even though this playdough recipe is made from natural ingredients it has a very high salt content and shouldn’t be eaten. 

How to Add Color

You can add color in a variety of ways. Add a few drops to your play dough recipe. Natural food You can color until you achieve the desired shade. Add the powder to 1 cup of water and then mix it with the other ingredients.

Make your own reusable bags.Own colored waterYou can use 2 cups of water and various fruits, vegetables or herbs to color the water. Use 1 cup colored water for your playdough. This version will spoil quicker.

• Blue – shredded purple cabbage
• Green – spinach
• Red/pink – shredded beet
• Purple – grape juice
• Yellow/orange – turmeric

Playdough with Scented Playdough

They LOVE it when I use a few drops essential oil to make things fun (and healthy!) scents. There’s really no end to the variety of essential oil-infused play dough you can make.

You can do this by dilution first in melted coconut or olive oil, before adding the oil to the recipe. Select essential oils that are safe for children. I always recommend Plant Therapy’s kid-safe line. Revive essential oilsAnother great option is to use a prepaid card.

My favorite oils include:

Playdough FAQ: Homemade

Can I leave out the cream of Tartar?

If you want to, you can. But it will give the playdough an excellent soft texture. Some suggest subbing a little vinegar instead if you don’t have cream of tartar, but I haven’t personally tried it.

What if My Child Isn’t Gluten-Free?

Use regular white flour in place of rice flour.

What can I use instead of corn starch?

If you don’t have corn starch or have a corn allergy, then arrowroot will also work. You can also combine the two. This recipe uses non-gmo, and it is available in many stores including Amazon.

Help! My playdough is too sticky

Rice flour is more sticky than wheat flour. Cooking the dough more until it’s soft and squishy but holds together helps reduce the sticky feel. Stir and cook for a few more minutes.

Get Ready for More Sensory Play?

For older kids (or younger too if you’re feeling adventurous), try making my gooey Natural slime recipe!

What do your children like to create with playdough? Comment and share your ideas below!