May 11, 2020
Beth Cuddy Photography/Boston Family Photographer
Need a fun idea for kids at home?!
Ok, my dear families, today I’m taking off my photographer hat, and putting on my mom hat. When parents are in the house with their little (or big) ones, sometimes it’s nice to have a fun idea for kids to do together, right?! After all, along with being a family and newborn photographer, I’m a mom of 4, and I understand how days can be!
So today I’m going to share a fun activity that might come in handy on the next rainy day.
BANANA PLAYDOUGH!
Here’s a fun twist on the usual playdough! Over the years, I’ve made lots of homemade playdoughs for my kiddos, different textures, smells, colors. But when I found this one, I was so excited because the recipe said it’s taste-safe AND smells like fresh banana bread… who could resist that?!
No worries if your little ones put some in their mouths. This playdough is dye-, dairy- nut-, egg-and soy-FREE.
I’ve made it myself, so I can vouch for its good fragrance and great squishiness 😉 It just takes about 10 minutes to make, and will last for several days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Just check it for any spoilage, mold or discoloration before letting you children play with it 😉
You’ll need:
1/2 cup ripe or overripe banana, mashed
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 1/4 cups flour
3/4 cup cornstarch
- In a bowl, combine 1/2 cup mashed banana, 1/2 cup water, and 1/2 cup vegetable oil. Mix until well combined.
- In another bowl, mix 2 1/4 cups flour and 3/4 cup cornstarch until well combined.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Knead the mixture or use a mixer with a dough hook to mix the ingredients until the dough is fluffy and smooth and you can no longer feel any bits of banana.
This fun idea for kids is from a really fun book that I LOVE!: 150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids: The Very Best and Easiest Playtime Activities from FunAtHomeWithKids.com!, by Asia Citro, MEd, Adams Media, 2014.
Happy squeezing, poking and squishing. xoxo
