Extra-Sticky Glue Dough
It has been several weeks since we made a fresh batch of playdough, and the kids were itching to get their hands into some this morning. But it felt too muggy and close for me to stand over the stove, stirring stiff stuff. (Sorry, sometimes the alliteration takes on a life of its own, or is that a skit from The Electric Company?)
Since the Unplug Your Kids theme of the week is sticky, I used that as inspiration and pulled out a recipe for glue dough. We made it a little light on the flour so it would be extra-sticky too. It was quite easy and good for half an hour’s distraction. All you need is a plastic table in the shade of a willow tree, two kids wearing yesterday’s clothes so as not to get fresh ones messy, and equal parts
flour, cornstarch and glue.
JediBoy learned, the hard way, that it’s worth the extra time with the spoon or craft stick to get it mostly stirred before you dip your hands in, otherwise your hands take on an initial layer of just glue. It doesn’t make it any harder to play and create with the dough, but it does take a lot longer to wash off when you’re done!
The kids did have great fun with the stickiness for about half an hour. Leaving just a smidge of the cornstarch and flour out kept the dough sticky the whole time, while if we’d put in the full amount and a little extra it would have smoothed right out like typical playdough. We enjoyed the sticky feeling and gave each other tons of “sticky high fives” and poked and prodded our mass of glue.
Then BabyGirl decided she was all done, but JediBoy and I stayed for a bit longer, making creatures and shapes and pancakes. He made, and then animated, a rather lovely snake.
BabyGirl took off, covered in flour, glue under her nails, to romp in her Cozy Coupe and try to climb the slides in her slippery new Cars shoes. She had wonderfully beautiful hair today, didn’t she? It’s mostly a result of yesterday’s topknot and JediBoy’s admonition that “if we’re making dough, we don’t need to clean up first!” But covered in glue, ratty hair, spunky attitude and all, she’s gorgeous.
ETA: I only linked to this project over at Unplug Your Kids, but Heather’s already spreading the word about my Contact paper project, which you can read about here.
June 5th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Your kids are both gorgeous, especially when they are messy and happy!
June 6th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Now THAT looks like fun. Could you post the recipe?
June 9th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Thanks, Paula & Steph!
The “recipe” is simply to mix *equal parts* flour, cornstarch and white glue (we used Elmer’s). We used a small disposable cup for our measuring cup; I believe the original recipe – wherever I saw it, years ago – called for 1/2 cup of each. Then mix!
June 9th, 2008 at 8:31 am
I love it! So Much Sticky Fun!!!!
June 9th, 2008 at 9:23 am
So cool! love playing with this stuff.
June 9th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Looks like ooey gooey fun! I love being able to do messy things like this outside — much more relaxing!
June 9th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
lovely stickiness and outside too!!
June 9th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Love it!
June 9th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
What a fun-looking mess. I’ll be adding that one to my list too, but we’ll be sure to do it outside also! That last photo of Baby Girl is gorgeous!
June 9th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Looks like they had a lot of fun! Sticky high fives sound great!
June 9th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Looks like fun! We’ll have to try this!
June 9th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Great idea-Sticky dough is alwaysfun-unless you are and adult baking.
June 10th, 2008 at 5:52 am
Beautiful kids indeed, and such a fun project.