Excited for pumpkins, cozy sweaters, college football, and all the fun and excitement that the fall season brings?! WE GOT YOU!

To bring the magic of fall into your home a little early this year, try making this stovetop play dough recipe to get the whole family PUMPED FOR FALL!

Stovetop Fall Play Dough Recipe

Tools and Materials to gather:

• non-stick stovetop pot or skillet

• silicone spatula

• wet ingredient measuring cup (to hold 2 cups of water)

• dry ingredient measuring cup (1 cup)

• tablespoon

Dry Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour

• 3/4 cups salt

• 1-2 tablespoon ground ginger

• 1-2 tablespoon ground nutmeg

• 1-2 tablespoons of cinnamon

• 2 tablespoons of cream of tarter

• optional: pumpkin pie spice blend (can be added as a substitution for the ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon measurements)

Wet Ingredients:

• 2 cups water

• 2 tablespoons oil

• a few drops of food coloring

Procedure:

With child’s assistance:

• Combine your wet ingredients into a large measuring cup and whisk together.

• In a large bowl or the pot you are using to cook the play dough in, measure out each of your dry ingredients and stir to combine.

  • Tip: For a stronger scent, add 2 tablespoons of each spice. Or, if available, add 3 tablespoons of pumpkin pie spice instead of the three spices for a simple substitution.

Stovetop steps (adults only):

• Turn the stove on to medium heat with dry ingredients in the pot/pan.

• Pour in wet ingredient mixture and stir continuously until it clumps together and doesn’t stick to the pan anymore.

• Once it all sticks together and forms a ball, move it to a flat surface and knead until cool enough for your child to touch.

Once cool, finish kneading together and invite your child to play with the play dough on a tray or at a table with cookie cutters, rolling pins, gems, nature materials, or other items your child can think of!

Tips for cooking with kids:

• Have all equipment, tools, and ingredients prepped and ready.

• Read the recipe aloud, discussing as you go.

• Discuss safety and sanitary measures with the children during before and during the cooking experience.

• Include children in the clean-up process.

Developmental benefits for cooking with children:

• Social-Emotional Development: Hands on cooking activities help children develop confidence and skill. It also teaches them to follow directions and develop problem-solving skills.

• Physical Development: Mixing and measuring ingredients helps strengthen fine motor and eye-hand coordination skills.

• Cognitive Development: Cooking encourages children’s thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. It also allows children the opportunity to use the knowledge they have and apply it by counting, measuring, following a sequence, following directions, and cause and effect.

• Language Development: Cooking offers the opportunity to develop language development by linking it to all other areas, including Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Arts, and Literacy. This is done by encouraging children to talk about what they are doing, counting, and watching materials change color, texture, and medium.

  Source: “The Benefits of Cooking with Preschoolers.” Https://Www.scoe.org/Files/Benefits-of-Cooking-with-Preschoolers.pdf.