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Growing Hands-On Kids

Growing Hands-On Kids

Child Development Tips, Tools, and Strategies

You are here: Home / Hands-On Activities / Valentine 4-Ingredient No-Cook Play Dough Recipe

Valentine 4-Ingredient No-Cook Play Dough Recipe

February 4, 2021 By Heather Greutman Leave a Comment

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Over the winter, one of my most popular posts is my winter 2-ingredient no-cook play dough recipe. It has been a while since I made play dough this way, so I decided to do a fun Valentine 4-ingredient no-cook play dough version today.

red play dough ball with red glass beads shaped in a heart.

Valentine 4 Ingredient No-Cook Play Dough Notes

A few things to point out before I give you the recipe.

Does NOT Feel Like Regular Play Dough!

This play dough does NOT feel like regular play dough. It is a little sticker at times and can also be a little crumblier. If this is not what you are looking for, I have another no-cook recipe with flour that may be more to your liking.

Click here for my flour-based no-cook play dough recipe (you could easily make this into a Valentine-themed dough).

The reason I like this play dough is it's SO easy to put together, with just 4 ingredients. The texture is super soft and I liked it for my winter theme since the corn starch makes it very white.

Food Coloring May Stain

I added food coloring to this option, so you may want to knead it on a cookie sheet that you don't mind turning slightly pink or red, depending on the color you use. It did stain my counter slightly when I was kneading, so make sure you cover it before kneading if you don't want that to happen.

You May Need More Than the Measurements State

I am giving approximate measurements for what I used, but you may need to add more corn starch or hair conditioner depending on the consistency of your dough.

You can also try this recipe with different kinds of hair conditioner to find the brand that works best for the consistency you are looking for.

I just used our regular conditioner that we get from Costco. But I found it was a little greasier than I remembered from last time when I just used a cheaper dollar store conditioner. So the type of conditioner you use may affect the consistency.

Have Your Child Play On A Cookie Sheet

I also had my children play with this on a cookie sheet. That just helps to keep the mess contained a little better and also makes sure the table won't get stained.

Valentine 4-Ingredient No-Cook Play Dough Recipe Ingredients

You will need:

  • 1 cup of hair conditioner (just plain, cheap, hair conditioner will work best)
  • 2-3 cups corn starch
  • 2-3 drops of red or pink food coloring (I used gel food coloring)
  • 5-6 drops of essential oil for scent (this is completely optional)

You will also need:

  • Mixing bowl
  • Spoon or spatula
  • Measuring cup
  • Cookie sheet
  • Play dough toys, miniature animals, glass beads etc.
ingredients for valentine 4 ingredient play dough recipe which includes hair condition, corn starch, essential oil, and red food coloring.

Directions:

  • Add 1 cup of hair conditioner to your mixing bowl.
  • Add 2-3 drops of food coloring to the conditioner and mix thoroughly
  • Add 5-6 drops of essential oil of your choice and mix
  • Add 1 cup of corn starch to the conditioner and mix with your spoon.
  • Keep adding 1/2 cup of corn starch at a time until you are able to form a soft, sticky ball with the dough.
  • Take the dough out of your bowl and knead by hand on the counter (or cookie sheet to avoid staining your counter).
  • Add cornstarch as needed to get the consistency you are looking for.
  • To store the play dough after playing, mix together into a ball and place it in a plastic storage container or a plastic bag, and store it at room temperature.

Here is a video so you can see the process and the consistency I ended up with.

My kids enjoy playing with their miniature animals in the dough, along with red glass beads. You could add more Valentine themed objects for them to play with if you want to really stick to the Valentine theme.

red valentine themed play dough with red glass beads shaped into a heart on a white counter background.

Free 5 Sensory Play Recipes Ebook

For more sensory play ideas, like this one, grab my Free 5 Sensory Play Recipes ebook below.

5 sensory play recipes, download for free.

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Once you have downloaded it, head to your “downloads” folder or wherever you have downloads stored on your computer and open and print it. It does help to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed and updated to the latest version for the best printable experience.

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For more ideas like this one, check out the resources below.

Calming no-cook play dough recipe using essential oils.
  • Calming No-Cook Play Dough Recipe
  • Calming, Organizing, and Alerting Activities for Kids
  • 10 Valentine's Day Activities for Kids
  • Two-Ingredient Valentine Goop Recipe

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Filed Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, For Parents, For Teachers, For Therapists, Kindergarten, Preschool 3-5, Sensory

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CONTENT DISCLAIMER: Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
All information on the Website is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for medical advice from a physician or your pediatrician. Please consult with a medical professional if you suspect any medical or developmental issues with your child. The information on the Websites does not replace the relationship between therapist and client in a one-on-one treatment session with an individualized treatment plan based on their professional evaluation. The information provided on the Website is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied.
Do not rely on the information on the Website as an alternative to advice from your medical professional or healthcare provider. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment as a result of any information provided on the Website. All medical information on the Website is for informational purposes only.
All activities outlined on the Website are designed for completion with adult supervision. Please use your own judgment with your child and do not provide objects that could pose a choking hazard to young children. Never leave a child unattended during these activities. Please be aware of and follow all age recommendations on all products used in these activities. Growing Hands-On Kids is not liable for any injury when replicating any of the activities found on this blog.
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Welcome to Growing Hands-On Kids! My name is Heather and I’m a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with experience in school-based Occupational Therapy. I use my background to share child development tips, tools, and strategies through hands-on activities. You can read more about me by clicking here.

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