Play Dough Pros

I’ve been spending the last week or so knee deep in playdough. It seems to be everywhere, in the kitchen, at nursery, in the carpet, in my pockets… everywhere.   Little kids seem to love the stuff.  And as they start school it is worth a little effort to keep their interest in all kinds of modelling going, for particularly as they start writing they need those squeezing muscles that dough helps develop.

But playdough does bring its problems.  Learn these tricks and become a playdough pro.

Make it
Shop bought stuff isn’t the cheapest, though it’s worth buying at least one set for the nifty airtight tubs it comes in.  Then you can make you own, adding colour or glitter to please.

Brush it
Playdough will end up in the carpet.  It’s one of those universal truths of childcare.  But fret not, it can be fairly easily removed.  First remove any lumps as best you can then wait for it to dry.  If you’re in a hurry DO NOT take a hairdryer to it, you’ll cook it in place forever.  Once it’s nice and crunchy go and find an old tooth brush and start combing the carpet in towards the middle of the offending smear.  Have a quick vacuum, repeat if necessary.  Should there be a coloured stain left try first with a little water (again moving from the outside to the middle of the stain), I’ve yet to have to break out the big guns, but should all else fail fetch the carpet cleaner.

Scratch  it
If you’ve got the stuff engrained in the knees of your trousers don’t wash it in hot water until you’ve left it to dry and given it a really good scratch and pick.

Poke it
It’s like removing mud from the soles of your footy-boots, or from the treads of your trusty but elderly hiking yompers.  There is something quite tranquil about poking around removing playdough from your shoes.  It’s one of those funny little activities that you do with your kids; sitting out on the porch, pokey stick in hand, talking through the day that’s been, and those that are still to come as the sun comes down.

Enjoy.

tag... play for today, play, 2up, 3up, enjoy and achieve, makes