We continued our simple homemade play fun this week cooking up an old microwave playdough recipe and then exploring with the senses using recycled bubble wrap!

Homemade playdough is such a versatile resource and an easy chemical free solution to the one sold in the shops. When  you make it yourself you know exactly what is in it and that it is safe for older babies and toddlers to explore with inquisitive fingers and mouths.

We took our batch outside for a little fun this week and the twins enjoyed collecting leaves to press into their playdough creations.

Want to try making your own playdough but dread the burnt saucepan and cleaning up afterwards?

I use a microwave playdough recipe that I made often when working in child care…no burnt saucepans I promise and it works well….you just have to make sure you don't overcook it or it will go crumbly but follow the simple instructions below and you will be making and playing before you know it …and saving money at the same time!

How to make microwave playdough

What you need:

• 2 cups plain flour
• 2 tbsp oil
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup salt
• 1 tbsp cream of tartar (to help it keep longer)
• food colouring or edicol dye

What you need to do now:

• Mix all dry ingredients in a microwave bowl or casserole dish, I usually use a clear pyrex dish as it allows me to see how the mixture is progressing while cooking.

• Add water and oil and if you are wanting to add some colour sprinkle in a few drops of food colouring or a sprinkle of edicol paint colour dye at this stage and stir or whisk well. You don't need to remove all the lumps as you will be stirring a few more times throughout the cooking process anyway.

• Cook in microwave for around 3 minutes – at the 3 minute mark carefully pull your dish out and give a good stir bringing down off the sides as well , it will look something like the consistency below after this amount of time.

• Put back in the microwave and cook in bursts of 40 secs – stir each time until the mix thickens, then forms a ball. When it has come together well but is still moist in places in the middle remove from the microwave , turn out onto a floured board.

• Rest for 5 minutes to finish the cooking process and to cool a little then knead well. If you cook for too long you will get tough and crumbly playdough – it can be a bit of trial and error as all microwaves are different but once you have made a few batches you will be a pro and know exactly when to take it out for perfect soft, squishy dough!