Looking for a fun, hands-on activity to celebrate spring? This no-cook dandelion playdough is quick, easy, and the perfect sensory experience for kids!
Not only is it simple to make, but it also ties beautifully into nature studies and seasonal learning. If your kids love picking dandelions, this is a great way to use them creatively while sneaking in a little science and nature appreciation.
Why Make Homemade Playdough?
I stopped buying store-bought playdough a few years ago when I realized how easy (and fun!) it is to make my own. Since then, we’ve experimented with different variations to match the seasons or complement our homeschool unit studies.
This week, our focus was dandelions—and after picking a bunch for lessons outside, we brought the extras inside to make this gorgeous, golden-yellow playdough!
Easy Dandelion Playdough Recipe
Here’s what you need:
- A handful of dandelion flowers
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup salt
- 1 tbs cream of tarter
- 2 tbs oil (vegetable or baby oil)
Here’s what you do:
- Prepare the dry ingredients – In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and cream of tartar. Set aside.
- Blend the dandelions – Add the dandelion flowers (stems are fine!) to a blender. Pour in the boiling water and pulse until the flowers break down completely.
- Mix the dough – Pour the dandelion mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until it forms a shaggy dough. Then, add the oil and mix again.
- Knead until smooth – Once the dough starts coming together, knead it by hand until it reaches a soft, playdough-like consistency. If it’s too sticky, sprinkle in a little more flour until it feels just right.
- Time to play! – Hand it over to the kids along with some playdough tools and let them explore!
More Dandelion Fun!
Check out this post for more hands-on activities and learning ideas.
Mini Dandelion Unit Study – Fun, Hands-On Learning for Spring!
Let me know –
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to see! Share your playdough creations on Instagram and tag @thehomesteadmother.
happy making & until next time,
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[…] we used the picked flowers to make some homemade dandelion playdough. The kids had so much fun playing with it. You can get the easy recipe to make your own […]