Kool Aid Play Dough

*This post originally ran on March 26, 2008 and is my most popular post according to the number crunching monkeys over at StatCounter. Perhaps a shift in my bloggy focus is in order, eh? :)

W.F.M.W. - Kool Aid Play Dough

I saw my friend Em's post on her cool kid's party activity (and I can tell you, Princess Pinky thought it was the bomb!) and I thought I'd pull out of my fave kiddo party ideas for today's Works for Me Wednesday at Rocks in My Dryer - Kool Aid Play Dough!

If you're an adventurous and well-prepared mommyfolk, you can actually have the kids help you make this at the party, then send it home with them. Or, if the thought of ten children hyped up on cake, juice boxes, and the presence of helium balloons running loose in your kitchen gives you the twitchies, you can make this before the party and send it home as a party favor.

Either way, it's a frugal and fun little project.

Here's what you'll need:

2 1/2 cu flour

1/2 cu salt2 packages Kool Aid (or any colored but non-sugared drink mix)

1 tsp cream of tartar

2 cu boiling water

3 tbsp oil

*Mix together all the dry ingredients, then add boiling water and oil. Be careful if you've got little hands helping you - it's hot!

*Stir until it thickens, then knead until smooth. It will look like this:(Why, yes, that is glitter I added just to make it extra-fun!)

*Last, flatten it out onto a piece of plastic wrap or wax paper so that it cools faster. It may seem sticky at first, but it will firm up when cooled.

See?

I made a half-batch today which was enough for four good-sized chunks. Cut it, ball it up, and pop it into some labeled plastic bags - that's it!

And, ooooh, it smells good!

This is non-toxic; the only preservative is the salt, so it doesn't last forever. Use your good judgement on when to pitch it to the trash.

So there you have it! A fun party activity, or favor, or just a good way to stay sane when you're at home all day with the kids.

Jump over to the linkage at Rocks in My Dryer for other Works for Me Wednesday ideas.

As for me, staying sane at home with kids always works for me!