playdough, what age

**~Temet Nosce~** · 20-10-2008 08:36

Do you think 15 months is too young to start playing with playdough? (Supervised obviously) I want to get some for dd but don't want her to eat it obviously..

**dillydAlly** · 20-10-2008 08:39

NOPE! Playdough is good at any age. I gave all of the babies in my centre playdough to play with, as long as it's supervised it doesn't matter.

And it's non toxic so even if DD does it eat it it wont matter.....

**Pina Colada** · 20-10-2008 08:42

My DD1 is 3 and I still catch her eating it!!

Give it a go - as long as you sit with her she should be fine.

**Areca** · 20-10-2008 09:02

DD1 got playdoh when she was 2.
DD2 loves playing with playdoh (she's 13 months). She eats it too but it's non toxic (you can even make your own if you're really worried. This is what I'm going to do when all the tubs run out). I don't know how she can want to eat it but she does and she sees you coming and puts as much in her mouth as she possibly can and then crawls off, shaking her head and rubbing her face in to the carpet (so you can't get it out of her mouth).

Go for it...but it makes a huge mess and I know DD1 is only now just starting to be able to use the shapes etc. on her own and they NEVER want to pack it up so you end up cutting out playdoh shapes ALL day!

**dillydAlly** · 20-10-2008 09:05

Here is the one I teach my girls... Its so easy!

2 cups of plain flour
4 tablespoons of 'cream of tartar'
2 tablespoons of cooking oil
1 cup of salt
2 cups of boiling water
food colouring
Just pop it all in a mixing bowl and mix!
It looks as though it is not going to mix well at first but hang in there and throw it onto the bench to knead, and it will come together really nicely.
We put different things in ours also such as glitter and sand. Just be careful you don't put things in like rice as they tend to go mouldy - we find glitter is really good.

**~Temet Nosce~** · 20-10-2008 09:09

thanks

hmm I am thinking I might only let her play with it in the hallway (which is wooden floorboards) I can see it getting all stuck to the carpet.. and mashed in..

**ComeBackKid** · 20-10-2008 09:10

DS started playing wiht play dough just after he turned two but DD who is 15 months gets into it as well. She used to just eat it but now is getting the hang of it

**MummyNanny** · 20-10-2008 10:18

I agree that play dough is great at this age but please be aware, even though play dough is no toxic is has a VERY high salt content.

Young children can become very ill and suffer from dehydration if they eat too much.

**xpress2** · 20-10-2008 11:29

DS is 13 months and he's been playing with it for a while - I make it myself. He taste's it but isn't too keen - Way too salty... He loves it!

**studyingECS** · 20-10-2008 11:34

Playdough is great for children 1+, mainly because apart from the creative nature of playdough (using their imagination in making things) it's also great for their fine motor skills.

In regards to eating it, if she goes to have a little taste, let her, because if she doesn't like the taste she won't eat it again and if she does well then you have to let her know that playdough is for playing it's not for eating.