Pumpkin Playdough: How To Make And Ideas for Enjoying
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This easy pumpkin playdough recipe only takes a few minutes to make and smells so good.
With only four steps, you'll be able to quickly enjoy hands-on activities that are perfect for sensory play in the fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, or any time of year. This homemade playdough is a frugal way to help your kids have fun while building important skills.
We've used this recipe for years to boost creative play, learning, and more. It stores so well and adds a delightful aroma to your room when in use.
Related: Enjoy more fun with pumpkins using our free printable pumpkin activities pack!
Enjoy Hands-On Seasonal and Holiday Fun with Playdough
Are you looking for fun ways to help your kids enjoy sensory play this fall? Or maybe you'd like some frugal ways to enjoy boost your Halloween or Thanksgiving celebration with your students? Perhaps you want to inspire creativity and imagination?
Well, this easy pumpkin playdough recipe is absolutely perfect for all of those things and many more!
Over the years, I've learned a trick or two when it comes to keeping my boys busy with screen-free activities. And DIY playdough has been one of the best ways to do it!
My mom (a retired preschool and Kindergarten teacher) used this recipe for making pumpkin playdough at home. Her students would squeal with delight when they were able to play with a delicious smelling batch at a center, indoor recess, or just because
As soon as my oldest son was old enough to play with it (and not shove the playdough into his mouth), I made our first batch. And we had such wonderful experiences using for weeks to come!
That's one of my favorite things about homemade playdough - with the right recipe and storage, you can keep the fun going for a long time!
I share my tips for making this recipe and creative ways to customize below. Make some soon and enjoy throughout autumn and the holidays!
Ingredients for This Homemade Pumpkin Playdough Recipe
To get started making this recipe on your own or with your kids, you'll first want to gather all the ingredients first. If you have enough supplies, I encourage you to make extra, especially if you're working with a group of children.
Here is what you'll need to make your pumpkin playdough:
1 ½ cups
all-purpose flour
¾ cup
salt
1 ½ teaspoon
cream of tartar
1 tablespoon
pumpkin pie spice
1 ½ cups
water
1 tablespoon
vegetable oil
optional
orange food coloring
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How to Make This DIY Pumpkin Playdough
If you haven't had the pleasure of making homemade playdough, you're in for a treat. It's fascinating to watch the transformation from sticky, gooey mess to smooth ball of color to play with your hands!
You'll need about a few minutes to gather the suggested ingredients (see above) and materials:
- large cooking pot (or saucepan)
- spoon (I prefer using a wood spoon. I find it more sturdy and less likely to have the playdough stick to it while I'm stirring.)
- wax paper
- sealable plastic sandwich bags (or other containers that can be sealed) for safe storage and to extend the life of your DIY playdough
Cook time for this playdough recipe is approximately 5 minutes. That's less than 10 minutes until you have fantastic playdough!
Step-by-Step Directions for Making This Playdough Recipe
01
Add ingredients.
In a medium saucepan, add all the ingredients (except the orange food coloring). Stir to combine.
02
Stir and heat.
Continue to stir the ingredients. Heat over medium heat for 4-5 minutes.
03
Cool and add coloring.
Allow the playdough time to cool down enough to safely touch.
If you desire your pumpkin playdough to have color, add 10-12 drops of orange food coloring.
04
Knead the dough and enjoy!
Knead the dough to thoroughly mix the color.
Divide into sections and use for creative play and more!
Tips for Making Your Playdough for All Sorts of Fun
I'm happy to share some of the things that we've tried and learned about over our years of making homemade playdough.
If you decide to use the orange food coloring (or other color) or have multiple kids using the playdough, I recommend dividing the dough into 6 portions. OR make a double batch!
Wait until the dough is completely cool before storing. This step helps prevent condensation from building up in the plastic bag (or other storage container).
Use one bag per color of playdough and/or per child - unless you don't mind a bit of mixing.
Vegetable oil can be used in place of canola oil in a 1:1 ratio.
⭐ Easily add some fun to your playdough with glitter. My boys and I LOVE mixing in some glitter. It makes the coolest effects and can add a neat holiday or seasonal touch.
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Boost Sensory Play and More with Playdough
When using a material like playdough with children, I think it's wise to set clear rules and expectations. Also, it can fe super fun to provide kid-safe tools made for using with playdough, as well as small plastic toys.
Printable playdough mats (like our free fall set, emotions, and number playdough mats) can take your hands-on learning to the next level.
Once you make this pumpkin playdough, I'd love to hear about your experiences! How did it go? What did you do to customize it? And what type of playdough activities did you and your kids enjoy? Let me know in the comments area at the bottom of this post!