We finally tried the Jell-O playing dough thing this weekend, and mom and son gave it two thumbs up. . . oh, and also dad, because he actually gave it the taste test since it smelled so good (not like he snacked on it, just a nibble). We used the recipe from Modern Parents, Messy Kids, but I have seen similar recipes all over the web.

We made raspberry dough because I had it on hand, which made the pinkish red colored dough that you see here. My son enjoyed mixing all the ingredients together, but quickly tired of the stirring and kneading steps; although he magically reappeared for the play/testing phase. The cooking process didn’t take that long, just remember to keep stirring until you really can’t stir any longer. Also, I probably kneaded an additional cup of flour into the dough to get rid of the stickies, so just keep “kneading it in as needed” (ha, get it). When it was finished, I admit I was completely surprised by how much it actually felt like the real thing, and this recipe makes enough for at least a couple of kids to enjoy.

Our son played with his newest creation for over an hour Saturday afternoon, and afterwards, we plopped it into an airtight container and put it in the refrigerator until the next play day. According to Modern Parents, Messy Kids, the playing dough should last at least a few weeks if properly stored in the fridge.

So if you have a hankering for some homemade fun, here’s the recipe you should use: