12 Months of Themed Play Dough Jars Using Natural Ingredients

I love play dough! Squishy, irresistibly soft, sweet scented play dough. With or without added props to add to the fun, play dough can keep my family busy for a happy, creative hour. All of my children ages 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 enjoy it. It’s a calming activity I enjoy sitting down to play with too!

Sometimes I buy premade store play dough. However, I tend to buy a variety of colors that my youngest children quickly mix into brown. Within minutes we have 8 tubs of all brown play dough. Some days it can be a fun project to make homemade play dough in one big batch of all the same color. 

I got to thinking how fun it would be to make up one new batch of homemade play dough each month and scent it to coordinate with the current holiday or season. My children and I got busy and enjoyed making up 12 new play dough recipes to share with you: 1 for each month of the year!

All you need to get started is 1 regular 16oz mason jar with a lid and some common pantry ingredients! You can keep your playdough in the fridge and it will easily last a month until you are ready to make a new batch! Below I share simple themed optional props to go with your play dough for each month of the year to add to the fun, but they are definitely not necessary.

Below is our Basic Homemade Play Dough Recipe that easily fits in a standard 16oz mason jar with extra room on top to store optional props.

Basic Homemade Play Dough Recipe 

• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 cup salt
• 1 tsp cream of tartar 
• 1 T oil
• 1/2 cup cold water

Mix dry ingredients in saucepan. Add wet ingredients. Cook and stir continuously with a wooden spoon over medium heat. Keep stirring until the dough holds together and forms a ball. Remove from heat. Let cool slightly. Knead a few times. Cool completely. Place inside a 16oz mason jar with a lid. Refrigerate to keep play dough from getting sticky. So simple!

Tips to Create a Monthly Themed Play Dough Jar

The basic dough is perfect for any time of the year. If you want to add variety and make a themed sensory experience, see my ideas below to make a special dough for each month of the year just by adding a splash of color or scented spice. Just stir the add-ins into the wet ingredients of the basic dough recipe above. I also share playful prop ideas to add creativity and increased fine motor skills to the experience. I love to get my play dough props from the dollar store. As you choose the prop ideas, be mindful of your child’s age and potential choking hazards.

Recommendations

Here are tips that I have learned after many, many batches of homemade play dough and the input of my opinionated play dough testers (my kids 😉 )

• Be sure to keep stirring with a wooden spoon over medium heat until the whole batch of dough forms a defined round ball. 
• Too much extract will make the dough sticky.
• Beets and tumeric are natural and make vibrant colors, but they stink! The kids won’t want to play with it.
• Amazing smelling spices are safer than adding liquid colors for long lasting results. When I used carrot or blueberry juices in my recipes, they turned into sticky messes within a couple of days.
• Stay away from rosemary and other scents the kids may not want to smell day after day.
• I have never had a child not want to play with the basic play dough recipe mixed with cinnamon and vanilla extract. Mmmmm! Sometimes simple is best.
• The basic recipe above doubles and quadruples easy peasy.

January Play Dough Jar: Build A Snowman

Play Dough Recipe Add-in: 1 drop of almond extract to the basic recipe.

Prop Ideas: 2 small sticks, fabric to make a scarf, google eyes, buttons, and a snowman cookie cutter (or simply roll the dough into round balls). This winter jar is super fun!

February Play Dough Jar: Valentine’s Heart

Play Dough Recipe Add-ins: 1 drop of vanilla extract plus replace ½ cup of cold water from the basic recipe with ½ cup frozen strawberries boiled in 1 cup water then strained to make ½ cup. This smells unbelievably amazing!

Prop Ideas: Small heart cookie cutter, rose petals (real or artificial). Enjoy making play dough hearts with your favorite little love!

March Play Dough Jar: St. Patrick’s Day Rainbow

Play Dough Recipe Add-in: Replace ½ cup cold water from the basic recipe with a big handful of dandelions boiled in ½ cup water and cooled. I love this month’s theme! If you don’t have any dandelions growing nearby, sunflower petals, carnations or daisies would be great alternatives!

Prop Ideas: Gold or green sprinkles, colored pom poms, gold coins, green split peas. May the luck of the Irish be with you!

April Play Dough Jar: Easter Eggs

Play Dough Recipe Add-in: Replace ½ cup cold water from the basic recipe with ½ cup pomegranate cherry juice plus add a handful of dried lavender (Amazon has lots of choices! Link below) to mix in to the play dough while kneading. This recipe is so unique and calming!

Prop Ideas: Small basket or pail, pastel sprinkles. Happy Easter!

May Play Dough Jar: Grow A Flower

Play Dough Recipe Add-in: While kneading, add a handful of cocoa powder to mix in with the dough. My children love the smell of this chocolatey play dough!

Prop Ideas: Seeds, flowers, rocks, small construction truck. Hooray for “dirt” and spring flowers!

June Play Dough Jar: Lemonade Stand

Play Dough Recipe Add-in: Replace ½ cup water from the basic recipe with ½ cup of orange juice. Add 1 drop of lemon extract and grated lemon peel. This has an incredible yet subtle scent your family will love!

Prop Ideas: Straws, small cups. Lemonade stand is ready for business!

July Play Dough Jar: 4th of July Parade

Play Dough Recipe Add-in: 1 drop pure maple syrup to the basic recipe. A fun addition is to knead in patriotic metallic confetti.

Prop Ideas: Anything red, white and blue! I used a dollar store cheer pom pom. You might also add small American flags or a small star cookie cutter. Happy 4th of July!

August Play Dough Jar: Birthday Party

Play Dough Recipe Add-in: When play dough is cooled, knead in sprinkles. For chocolate “cake,” knead in a handful of cocoa powder as well.

Prop Ideas: Candles, cupcake wrapper, party streamers. Happy Birthday!

September Play Dough Jar: Apple Tree

Play Dough Recipe Add-in: 2T Cinnamon spice plus replace ½ cup of cold water from the basic recipe with the following raspberry concoction. Measure ½ cup raspberries and boil them in 1 cup water for about 10 minutes. Cool, then strain raspberries out, and use ½ cup of the naturally dyed pink water in place of the ½ cup cold water. This play dough lasts a long time!

Prop Ideas: Leaves, tree bark

October Play Dough Jar: Pumpkin

Play Dough Recipe Add-in: Replace ½ cup water from the basic recipe with ½ cup apple cider. Add in 2T pumpkin pie spice.

Prop Ideas: Cloves, dried black beans, green pipe cleaner, google eyes. Happy harvest!

November Play Dough Jar: Thanksgiving Turkey

Play Dough Recipe Add-in: Add 1T nutmeg and 1T cloves to the basic play dough recipe.

Prop Ideas: Feathers. Sculpt a play dough turkey with your little one and add feathers for each gratitude you share. Happy Thanksgiving!

December Play Dough Jar: Christmas Tree

Play Dough Recipe Add-in: 1 drop of peppermint extract to the basic recipe. Also, replace ½ cup cold water with ½ cup kale juice for a natural green tint.

Note: Just a drop of peppermint will be plenty to add a divine smell. Too much extract can stay on a child’s hands and cause potential eye irritation.

Prop Ideas: Red, green and gold sparkly pipe cleaners, jingle bells, cinnamon sticks. Merry Christmas!

Happy Playing!

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