I’m Calling it Silk Dough

 
I accidentally stumbled upon a simple and fun sensory material - my toddler loved it, you should try it, too!
 
(E was 27 months old.)

 



You’ll need:

  • Cornstarch.
  • Dishwashing liquid.

 



How to make Silk Dough:

Mix cornstarch and dishwashing liquid until it’s still fluffy but will hold a shape when you squeeze it between your hands. You’ll need a lot less dish soap than cornstarch.

If you’ve made Cloud Dough before, it works pretty much the same, except it’s even silkier and smoother.

 



How it worked for us:

I started out trying to make Bubble Dough as seen on Creative Playhouse. Bubble Dough has more of an actual doughy texture, breaks cleanly and acts like silly putty when you handle it gently.

I did it from memory {the way from the computer to the kitchen is just too long 😉 } and thought I had it nailed when I had a play dough-like consistency that broke cleanly.

I must’ve forgotten about the silly putty part because it definitely didn’t do that. But I only realized it a while later, when I re-read the above article.

In the meantime, still thinking I’d gotten it right, I wanted to make another batch because the first was trial-sized. This was impossible because I seriously overestimated the amount of dish soap we had left.

 

I accidentally stumbled upon a simple and fun sensory material - my toddler loved it, you should try it, too!
 
 

That left me with a fluffy material not unlike Cloud Dough but even smoother and silkier – Silk Dough!

It did stick to our hands more than Cloud Dough but it wasn’t a problem because it’s incredibly easy to clean up due to the soap that’s already in there.

E loved it as well. She ran it through her fingers,

 

I accidentally stumbled upon a simple and fun sensory material - my toddler loved it, you should try it, too!
 
 
used cookie cutters and sand moulds on it,
 
 
I accidentally stumbled upon a simple and fun sensory material - my toddler loved it, you should try it, too!
 
 
I accidentally stumbled upon a simple and fun sensory material - my toddler loved it, you should try it, too!
 
 
and closed the box to shake it {we’d just recently made Glitter Hearts, and she seems to have really liked that part 😉 }.
 
 
I accidentally stumbled upon a simple and fun sensory material - my toddler loved it, you should try it, too!
 
 
She made balls,
 
 
I accidentally stumbled upon a simple and fun sensory material - my toddler loved it, you should try it, too!
 
 
then made them fall apart with her play dough cutters.
 
 
I accidentally stumbled upon a simple and fun sensory material - my toddler loved it, you should try it, too!
 
 
And of course she ended up dumping it all on the table.
 
 
I accidentally stumbled upon a simple and fun sensory material - my toddler loved it, you should try it, too!
 
 
When E was done with it, I turned the entire batch into one big ball.
 
 
I accidentally stumbled upon a simple and fun sensory material - my toddler loved it, you should try it, too!
 

We even got some mileage out of the Bubble Dough attempt – it was still fun to break off pieces and cut it with play dough cutters.

 

I accidentally stumbled upon a simple and fun sensory material - my toddler loved it, you should try it, too!

 



What I learned:

  • Finding value in things that don’t go as planned can be really fun.
  • Silk Dough is even fun to clean up because it’s so easy and feels nice when it mixes with water.



 

Additional suggestions:

  • Add color or scent like you would to Cloud Dough. Depending on the dish soap you use, there’s scent already built into the recipe.
  • Add tools, bowls and other items.



 

Have you made Bubble Dough? Have you salvaged an apparent “failure” to do a fun activity with your kids? Tell me in the comments!

 

 

 

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