Fun and Goals Haiku

“My hands and your hands
Together reaching set goals
Is it work? It’s fun!”

– CTC Occupational Therapist Rhonda Hines

Some of the best things in the life of a child are the same things you probably remember fondly from your own childhood – cutting, pasting, playing with clay, and finger-painting. These activities are also very important in helping your child learn fine motor skills, and the more gooey portions of the “work” help children with sensory processing issues.

Here at CTC, we want to make sure that a child intent on exploring the world isn’t hampered by potential toxicity. Home made craft supplies are not only completely safe alternatives to their toxic store-bought cousins, they are also less expensive.

Here are a few of our favorite recipes. I’ve tested each of them on my own crafty and disaster-prone 4 year old, he very much approves!

Homemade Paste

3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup warm water.

1. Combine the ingredients in a sealable container.
2. Mix until thoroughly combined.
3. Add drops of peppermint or your child’s favorite extract for smell if you’d like.
4. Store in refrigerator in airtight container, spooning out a tablespoon or two at a time for use.  My son’s favorite way to use it is by using a paintbrush for application.

Homemade Play Dough

2 cups water
2 1/2 cups white flour
1/2 cup salt
1 tablespoon cream of tartar
2 packages Kool-Aide
3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1. Bring the water to a boil; remove from heat.
2. In a large bowl, use a wooden spoon to combine flour, salt, cream of tartar, and Kool-Aide. Add oil and stir to combine.
3. Add the hot water to the rest of the ingredients; stir to mix. After a few minutes, when the dough is cool enough to handle, turn it onto a lightly-floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
4. Store unused portions in refrigerator.  One batch makes the equivalent of 8 containers of play dough.

Note: It looks and smells lovely, but though it’s edible in the strictest sense, it doesn’t taste very pleasant!

Cooked Finger Paint

1 cup flour
2 teaspoons salt
3 cups cold water
3 cups boiling water
food coloring

1. Bring 3 cups of water to a boil.
2. In a medium saucepan, mix the flour and salt until combined. Add the cold water and stir until smooth. Turn heat on to medium.
3. Add the boiling water, combine thoroughly, and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. When the mixture turns clear, remove from heat and cool. Mix until smooth.
4. Separate into smaller containers, adding coloring to the individual batches.

Have fun!