It smells so yummy that I want to eat it all up! | It is like playing with candy! | The whole room smells like pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving! |

Monday 9/16/24 is National PLAY-DOH day! Children love to play with dough. And no wonder! They can squish and pound it and form it into fascinating shapes. Making play-dough with your child teaches measuring skills, math skills, language skills and more. It helps encourage waiting one’s turn, sharing ideas and new language development. Try it out this weekend. It’s a great way to interact and learn with your child. And it’s FUN!

How to make homemade pumpkin pie play-dough

What you need:

• 1 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice mix
• 1 cups water
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
• 1 tablespoons oil
• Orange food coloring

Mix it all up

• In a large pot add food coloring first then add oil and water stir together
• In a large bowl mix all dry ingredients together. Then add to food coloring, oil and water for cooking.
• Cook over a medium heat until dough starts to form an become dry.
• Does the dough look too sticky?  Just add extra flour. To floury? Add more water or oil or both. It’s that simple. Once you like the consistency, it’s time to cool then knead the dough on a floured surface for about 4 minutes.

Making it is half the fun!  So please be sure to let your child do as much of the measuring, mixing and kneading as possible. They can even try mixing the ingredient with their hands. During the process remember to encourage verbal skills by talking about what your child is doing. Asking open ended questions. And answering your child’s questions. If your child asks, “Can we make it a different color?” Give it a try.

Now it’s time to play with the play-dough

Your child’s imagination and your’s are the only limits here. Cut it. Squeeze it. Put things in it. Make a snake. A rocket. Throw it. Catch it. It’s all up to you. You can even taste it! Yes! It’s edible but not at all sweet.

When finished seal in a zip-lock bag or airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

When you make Pumpkin pie play-dough your child learns:

Math Skills

• Measuring; fractions, cups, tablespoons…
• Comparing & contrasting – bigger, smaller, lighter, darker…

Verbal Skills

• Expanding vocabulary

Motor Skills

• Mixing (with spoon & hands)
• Pouring
• Rolling

Reading Skills

• Following written directions
• Reading fractions & numbers

Sensory Skills

• Feeling different textures
• Different smells
• Colors

And a lot more!

Doing cooking and science projects together with your children at home is a great way to help reinforce what we are learning at school and strengthen family bonds. I hope you have fun creating memories.

The post How To Make Pumpkin Pie Play-dough appeared first on Halsey Schools Preschool & Infant Center.

How to Make Apple Pie Play Dough

Children love to play with dough. And no wonder! They can squish and pound it and form it into fascinating shapes. Making play dough with your child teaches measuring skills, math skills, language skills and more. It helps encourage waiting one’s turn, sharing ideas and new language development. Try Ms. Diana’s favorite recipe this weekend. It’s a great way to interact and learn with your child. And it’s FUN!

What you need:

• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cup salt
• 1 teaspoon oil
• 1/3 cup water
• 4-5 drops red food coloring
• 1 tablespoon apple pie spice

Mix it all up

• In a large mix flour and salt together. Add oil to the mixture.
• In a separate bowl, mix together water & food coloring
• Pour the red water into the flour & salt mixture. Stir in the apple pie spice
• Knead with hands into a ball (If it is too sticky, just add a little flour. Too dry? Add a little bit of water.)

Let your child do as much as possible

Making it is half the fun!  So please be sure to let your child do as much of the measuring, mixing and kneading as possible. They can even try mixing the ingredient with their hands. During the process remember to encourage verbal skills by talking about what your child is doing. Asking open ended questions. And answering your child’s questions. If your child asks, “Can we make it a different color?” Give it a try.

Now it’s time to play with the Apple Pie Play Dough

Your child’s imagination and your’s are the only limits here. Cut it. Squeeze it. Put things in it. Make a snake. A rocket. Throw it. Catch it. It’s all up to you. You can even taste it! Yes! It’s edible! When finished seal in a zip-lock bag or airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

When you make Apple Pie Play Dough your child learns:

Math Skills

• Measuring; fractions, cups, tablespoons…
• Comparing & contrasting – bigger, smaller, lighter, darker…

Verbal Skills

• Expanding vocabulary

Motor Skills

• Mixing (with spoon & hands)
• Pouring
• Rolling

Reading Skills

• Following written directions
• Reading fractions & numbers

Sensory Skills

• Feeling different textures
• Different smells
• Colors

And a lot MORE!

Doing cooking and science projects together with your children at home is a great way to help reinforce what we are learning at school and strengthen family bonds. I hope you have fun creating memories.

The post How To Make Ms. Diana’s Favorite Play Dough appeared first on Halsey Schools Preschool & Infant Center.

How to Make Homemade Edible Marshmallow Play Dough

Children love to play with dough. And no wonder! They can squish and pound it and form it into fascinating shapes. Making play dough with your child teaches measuring skills, math skills, language skills and more. It helps encourage waiting one’s turn, sharing ideas and new language development. Try Ms. Alyssa’s favorite recipe this weekend. It’s a great way to interact and learn with your child. And it’s FUN!

What you need:

• 1 cup of marshmallows (any size or kind)
• 1 teaspoon of coconut oil
• Optional food coloring
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch

Mix it all up

• In a large microwave-safe bowl combine the marshmallows, oil & optional food coloring. Microwave for 30-90 seconds or until the marshmallows are melted
• Add 3 tablespoons cornstarch & stir with a wooden spoon
• Continue to mix until a ball starts to form
• Let cool for a few minutes and then dump it onto the counter
• Knead with hands into a ball (If it is too sticky, just add a corn starch. Too dry? Add a little bit of water.)

Let your child do as much as possible

Making it is half the fun!  So please be sure to let your child do as much of the measuring, mixing and kneading as possible. They can even try mixing the ingredient with their hands. During the process remember to encourage verbal skills by talking about what your child is doing. Asking open ended questions. And answering your child’s questions. If your child asks, “Can we make it a different color?” Give it a try.

Now it’s time to play with the Edible Marshmallow Play Dough

Your child’s imagination and your’s are the only limits here. Cut it. Squeeze it. Put things in it. Make a snake. A rocket. Throw it. Catch it. It’s all up to you. You can even taste it! Yes! It’s edible! When finished seal in a zip-lock bag or airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

When you make Edible Marshmallow Play Dough

your child learns:

Math Skills

• Measuring; fractions, cups, tablespoons…
• Comparing & contrasting – bigger, smaller, lighter, darker…

Verbal Skills

• Expanding vocabulary

Motor Skills

• Mixing (with spoon & hands)
• Pouring
• Rolling

Reading Skills

• Following written directions
• Reading fractions & numbers

Sensory Skills

• Feeling different textures
• Different smells
• Colors

And a lot MORE!

Doing cooking and science projects together with your children at home is a great way to help reinforce what we are learning at school and strengthen family bonds. I hope you have fun creating memories.

The post How To Make Ms. Alyssa’s Favorite Play dough appeared first on Halsey Schools Preschool & Infant Center.

It smells like a chocolate paradise. Let’s pretend we’re candy makers in a chocolate factory!

Children love to play with dough. And no wonder! They can squish and pound it and form it into fascinating shapes. Making play dough with your child teaches measuring skills, math skills, language skills and more. It helps encourage waiting one’s turn, sharing ideas and new language development. Try my favorite recipe this weekend. It’s a great way to interact and learn with your child. And it’s FUN!

How to Make Homemade No-Cook Chocolate Play Dough

What you need:

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup of table salt
• 1/2 cup of cocoa
• 1 1/2 cups of boiling water
• 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla (optional)

Mix it all up

Put all ingredients into a large bowl.  Mix well until a ball starts to form.  Let cool for a few minutes and then dump it onto the counter and knead. If it is too sticky, just add a little flour.

Making it is half the fun!  So please be sure to let your child do as much of the measuring, mixing and kneading as possible. They can even try mixing the ingredient with their hands. During the process remember to encourage verbal skills by talking about what your child is doing. Asking open ended questions. And answering your child’s questions. If your child asks, “Can we make it a different color?” Give it a try.

Now it’s time to play with the Chocolate play dough

Your child’s imagination and your’s are the only limits here. Cut it. Squeeze it. Put things in it. Make a snake. A rocket. Throw it. Catch it. It’s all up to you. You can even taste it! Yes! It’s edible but not at all sweet.

When finished seal in a zip-lock bag or airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

When you make chocolate play dough your child learns:

Math Skills

• Measuring; fractions, cups, tablespoons…
• Comparing & contrasting – bigger, smaller, lighter, darker…

Verbal Skills

• Expanding vocabulary

Motor Skills

• Mixing (with spoon & hands)
• Pouring
• Rolling

Reading Skills

• Following written directions
• Reading fractions & numbers

Sensory Skills

• Feeling different textures
• Different smells
• Colors

And a lot MORE!

Doing cooking and science projects together with your children at home is a great way to help reinforce what we are learning at school and strengthen family bonds. I hope you have fun creating memories.

The post How To Make Ms. Jenni’s Favorite Play dough appeared first on Halsey Schools Preschool & Infant Center.