Making Play-Doh

Materials:

Flour, salt, cream of tartar, vegetable oil, water, food coloring, mixing bowl, spoon, saucepan

Instructions:

This hands-on STEM activity invites children to explore simple science concepts while creating their own Play-Doh from scratch. Caregivers can guide children as they measure, mix, and observe how ingredients change when combined and heated. Adding food coloring provides instant visual feedback and encourages creativity. Once cooled, the Play-Doh is ready for open-ended play and sensory exploration.

Simple Play-Doh Recipe:

In a saucepan, mix 1 cup flour, ½ cup salt, and 2 teaspoons cream of tartar. Add 1 cup water and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, then stir until combined. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture forms a ball. Remove from heat, allow to cool slightly, then knead until smooth. Add food coloring during kneading for custom colors.

Colored Rice

Materials:

Rice, vinegar, food coloring, Ziploc bag

Instructions:

Make colored rice by adding a few drops of food coloring and a dash of white vinegar to a bag of rice. Have your child shake the bag until the color is thoroughly mixed. Spread the rice on a baking sheet to dry overnight, then use it for sensory play in containers.

Flower Anatomy Sorting

Materials:

Flowers, three sorting jars, masking tape, marker, tray

Instructions:

If you have flowers that are past their prime, use them for learning! Label jars “leaf,” “stem,” and “petal.” Ask your toddler to name each part, then model how to separate and sort them into the correct jar.

Tie-Dye Shirts

Materials:

White shirts, squirt bottles, food coloring, water

Instructions:

Mix water and food coloring in squirt bottles until you get a good color. Have your toddler squirt the mixture onto a shirt to create their own tie-dye design. This is best done outdoors—little hands get excited!

Pom-Pom Drop

Materials:

Toilet paper and paper towel rolls, paint, tape, pom-poms

Instructions:

This two-part activity starts by having your toddler paint each roll a different color. Once dry, tape the tubes to a wall and drop matching pom-poms through—watch them disappear and reappear at the bottom!

Classic Volcano

Materials:

Baking soda, vinegar, dish soap, food coloring, muffin tin, medicine dropper, bowl

Instructions:

Add a spoonful of baking soda, a drop of food coloring, and a squirt of dish soap into each muffin cup. Put vinegar in a bowl, then let your toddler use the dropper to add it and watch the “eruption.” Tip: Ask them to mix vinegar with different colors and notice new hues. You can also teach patterns using colors!

Heart Experiment

Materials:

Glass, water, vinegar, baking soda, candy hearts

Instructions:

This is similar to the volcano but with a Valentine’s Day twist! Fill half a glass with water and stir in a spoonful of baking soda. Have your toddler drop candy hearts into the mix, then add a little vinegar—just enough so you don’t make a mess. Watch the hearts sink and then float up and down!

Magic ABCs

Materials:

White crayon, watercolor paint, brush, white paper

Instructions:

Write ABCs with the white crayon (it’s hard to see at first). Then have your toddler paint over them—letters appear like magic! Tip: Press hard to make the letters bold so they stand out more.

Flower Anatomy

Materials:

Flower anatomy handout

Instructions:

Use the handout to point out each part of a flower—real or fake. Let your child gently pull petals or slice the stem (with supervision) to explore how it’s built.