Play Dough Kits and Celebrating Earth Day.
Can y’all believe that we are practically in mid-April? I know I am flabbergasted. Big word, I know. Feeling pretty big right now after putting together this fun and easy play dough kit just in time for Earth Day! I love to acknowledge Earth Day every year. I believe it is important for our kids to understand the importance of taking care of our planet and all the creatures and plants that inhabit it. This play dough kit is a great way to get the conversation started.
Why the play dough?
Some of you may be wondering why go with play dough to celebrate Earth Day rather than getting outdoors? Let me let you all on a little secret, we are doing both! My kids are early risers. I may not be quite ready to head outdoors when they are up and ready to go. This momma needs a cup of coffee and some wake up time before adventuring outdoors. This is where these wonderful play dough kits come into play! They have everything you need to have creative play time. I have seen so many great ones too! My friend, Kirsten Beary makes some amazing ones that she sells if you would rather go that route!
A play dough kit normally comes with play dough (homemade) and little trinkets to make play dough play time fun and interesting. For this Earth Day themed kit, I wanted to go with the colors of the earth: green and blue. I also wanted to add a few little trinkets that give it more of the earthy vibe. You know what else? I purchased all of this from Target. Yep, I sure did. You all know have another reason to stop by Target. We should all be celebrating Earth Day, and Target is here to help.
Ok, back to why I am using play dough to help with celebrating Earth Day. You can do so much with play dough, from molding to adding your own flare to the design. Play dough is such a great tool for small hands and is great for encouraging fine motor skills. My oldest even loves to get creative with play dough. It is safe and non-toxic, and it is usually an easy clean.
Play Dough Kit for Earth Day
This play dough kit not only includes a homemade play dough recipe, but also how to create your very own Earth Day themed play dough kit!
Ingredients
- Double this recipe for Green & Blue (2 colors)
- 1 cup of flour, all-purpose
- 1/2 cup of salt
- 2 tsp Cream of Tartar
- 1 cup of water
- 1 tablespoon of Vegetable Oil
- 20-30 drops of Blue Food Coloring
- 20-30 drops of Green Food Coloring
- Pipe Cleaners
- Blue & Green Sequin Glitter Mix
- Flower Bead Mix
Instructions
- Mix the food coloring in a bowl with water. (Blue in one bowl, green in another)
- You will make each color separately. Starting with the blue, add the mixed food coloring water into a large pot with the vegetable oil, salt, flour and cream of tartar. Mix well. If you want to make it smell nice, you can add a few drops of essential oils.
- Heat the play dough mixture on low-medium heat until it starts to form, mixing the entire time. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Dump it out onto parchment paper and knead the play dough.
- Store it in an air tight container or saran wrap.
- Repeat these same steps with the green food coloring.
- Set up the table with the pipe cleaners to represent trees and other plant life as well as the sequin glitter and beads. Allow your children to be creative and have fun!
Earth Day is a day to be acknowledged.
As I mentioned earlier, Earth Day is the perfect way to teach your children about all the greatness that our planet has to offer. We should take care of her for this very reason. I always end up referencing the Disney movie Wall-E. If you haven’t seen this movie, you need too! It will make you want to recycle everything and try to live more sustainably. You don’t have to make this into a big lesson. Tell your kids the great things our earth has to bring to us, and why we need to take care of her. Just like other things in life, things will go south if you don’t take the effort to treat them right.
More Earth Day activities: https://thesoutherlymagnolia.com/planting-seeds-with-kids-gardening-fun-for-earth-day/ https://thesoutherlymagnolia.com/gardening-indoors-with-seeds-bring-back-the-bees/
I plan to get outdoors afterwards and plant a few flowers. My kids are all about some time in the dirt!
Play Dough Kit Supplies
Happy Earth Day!
I hope you all have a wonderful Earth Day! You can find so many ways to celebrate with friends and family. This play dough kit is just a start.
Hugs!
