Pumpkin Pie Scented Playdough - A Pumpkin Carving Alternative

Pumpkin Scented Play Dough is a great activity that will give you many fun and memorable times as a family. Mold it, enjoy the scent, make ornaments, use it for therapy purposes, the fun options are limitless.



Pumpkin Pie Scented Play Dough


You will need the following:

* 2 1/2 cups flour
* 1 cup salt
* 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
* 5 tablespoons cooking oil
* 1 ounce pumpkin pie spice
* Orange food coloring (2 parts yellow to 1 part red, 15 drops total)
* 2  cups water


Directions:

* Mix all dry ingredients together. 
* Add liquid ingredient except for food coloring.
* Mix well.

* Add Food coloring.
* Mix well. 

*Cook in a saucepan (using medium heat). 
*Stir until the mixture becomes thick and forms a ball (pulling away from the sides of the pan). 

* Using wooden spoon, form dough into a ball. 
* Place on waxed paper to cool. 

* Once cool, knead completely.
* Store in an airtight container (I wrap it in waxed paper for extra protection and to preserve scent even longer, then store it in airtight container).


NOTE:
I came up with this formula last year (2010) and it turned out great. I pulled it out a week ago and it is still perfectly soft and in great shape (after a year in storage). This is a QUALITY recipe.

We LOVE it!!


I'd love to see the creations your family dreams up with this awesome pumpkin scented playdough! Post pics if you get a chance!

Here's How We Play - A Halloween Sensory Game

So, we have these GREAT Halloween Sensory Boxes (see my last couple of posts) and I thought it would be fun to come up with a way for Kylie to work on her counting skills while also becoming familiar and comfortable with more sticky types of sensory things.  (this will help her be more comfortable in other areas of her life such as feeding, on the playground, self-care and in crafting scenarios)

To accomplish this goal, I came up with a simple game to help her work on these skills while still having fun!

I used the following supplies:
*Standard size muffin tin (I chose one with 6 wells vs 12 so it wouldn't be as overwhelming (at first) for her.  As her skills increase, so will her endurance and then we might jump to the 12 wells so it is more challenging)

*Dice (be sure to have one for each well of your muffin tin)

*Something to hold your dice (I chose a felt pumpkin purse)

I found all these items at Dollar Tree, but most families will probably have things they can use already in their homes. 


The game is really, really simple:
-  Have your child roll one die into the muffin tin.

-  Have your child count the number of dots on the top of the dice.

-  Then have your child transfer the items one at a time from your Icky Sticky Halloween Sensory Box (we transferred the eyeballs) into that well of the muffin tin. (The other items in the box will cling creating resistance and will require your child's finger muscles to work harder to hold on to the item. This is great small motor exercise.)

Note: Give your child the option of using their fingers or tongs.  They might not be ready to actually have physical contact with the sticky items, but as they get faster at the game they may care less or have less anxiety about the textures of the items and be more willing to use their fingers.


Here is Kylie in action:

As you can see, Kylie chose to use the tongs...AND to hold one hand behind her back. 
She was NOT going to touch anything sticky!!

She tired out after 3 wells, but that is ok., even though she didn't know it, she was working hard. 
Whatever she DOES accomplish is Success!! 

She is so proud of her hard work!! 

What games do you play at your house?  I'd love to learn about them!

Thanks for sharing in our day!!

Amy (Kylie too)