Certain recipes are important to keep around the house so families are always prepared. The following recipes use materials found in the kitchen and garage.

No-cook play dough

Mix together: 1 cup flour, 1/3 cup salt in a separate bowl. Mix together 1/2 cup water, 3 drops food coloring, and 5 drops liquid detergent. Add liquid to dry mixture slowly and knead until desired consistency. Do not ingest. Keep refrigerated in a tight plastic container. It lasts for about a month.

Clay dough

This dough can be used to make small sculptures, garden stones, vases for dry flowers, and paperweights. Mix 2 cups salt and 2/3 cup water in a pan. Heat mixture until the salt is completely dissolved. Remove from heat. Mix 1 cup cornstarch and 1⁄2 cup cold water in a separate bowl. Stir quickly into the salt water and mix well.

The dough will be stiff. Add food coloring to the water mixture, if desired. Dried sculpture can be painted. Look for animal, people, and car pictures to help children use their imagination. This mixture must be used immediately. Coat any container or pie plate with Vaseline or cooking spray for use as a mold. Press the dough into the mold. Add old jewelry or fake gemstones into the mold first. Then add the dough. After thorough drying gently remove from the mold. Allow to dry three to four days.

Bumpy texture clay

Use this dough for doorstops, summertime garden stepping-stones, and flower pots. They will crack if left over the winter.

Mix 1 1/2 cup flour and 1/2 cup salt. Add 6 tablespoons water. Knead to create the clay. This clay must be used immediately. The dried clay may be painted and spayed with polyurethane (adults only).

Cotton puff dough

This is so simple. Mix 1 cup flour with 1 cup water to make a paste. Add 1 bag cotton balls and mix thoroughly. Scoop up a handful and let excess fall away. Form into desired animal or other shapes on a baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour at 325 degrees. Paint when cooled.

Never fail play dough

This is a popular readers’ repeat. Mix 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, and 1 tablespoon cream of tartar. Add 1 tablespoon cooking oil with 1 cup water colored with food coloring. Cook in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat until mixture sticks together. Remove from heat. Cool slightly. Knead. Store in plastic bags.

How does this help children?

Children who are read to daily and played with often, whether it is outside running around or talking with doing art, enter school with 20,000 words instead of 3,000 and get a head start.

For more, see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com and wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons live and podcasts.