Whole Wheat Play Dough Valentine Cookies

by Carrie Wells, Ed.D.

Whole Wheat Play Dough

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

2 T oil

1/2 cup salt

1 c water

gel food coloring (in your favorite colors)

I did not set out to make a "healthier" play dough. I just happened to be running low on regular flour, so I decided to try using whole wheat flour. We began by measuring and pouring all the ingredients in a pot on the stove set to a low temperature.

I let Lydia sit on the counter to help mix the play dough. If the mixture seems a bit sticky after combining everything well, just add a bit more flour until you get the right consistency.

Allow the play dough to cool to room temperature. I let Lydia choose the colors, and we made four different shades of play dough. I learned afterwards that it may have been easier to combine the food coloring with the water and then mixed it all together, but when you add the food coloring later on, you can work on hand-strengthening activities.

When we use play dough from a can, I do not allow Lydia to mix all the colors together. The great thing about homemade play dough is that kids can combine all the different colors, and then you can just dispose of it after. To celebrate Valentine's Day, Lydia used different heart-shaped cookie cutters to make Valentine's Day "cookies."