The temperature outside is inching downward, but we all know that kids’ energy has no season. They’re almost always alert and ready to go! However, cold weather can put a damper on the usual outdoor activities. If you’re looking for a fun, indoor craft that will inspire creativity (and might even sneak in a bit of education) then here’s a suggestion for you!
Baker’s clay is a craft that can be made at home with simple ingredients. The clay is easy for kids to mold and fun for making letters, numbers or shape creations. With parental help to cook it up, this can be a fun afternoon activity for the family. The baker’s clay recipe comes from page 3 of Recipes for Fun, a pamphlet of activities for ages birth to five we have available at the library.
What you need:
- Mixing spoon
- Bowl
- Cookie sheet
- 4 cups flour
- 1 cup salt
- 1 ½ cups water
- Art Supplies (optional)
- Non-toxic water-based sealer (optional)
What you do:
- Preheat your oven to 300° F.
- Mix 4 cups flour, 1 cup salt and 1 ½ cups water in a bowl.
- Knead the clay for two minutes. If the clay is too tough to knead, add more water to the mix.
- Roll into snake-like shapes and cut into sections.
- Play time! Have your child create different letters or numbers with the clay. Simple shapes work better than more complex ones for cooking the clay.
- Bake creations in the oven for one hour or until all of the moisture evaporates. (Adjust the time as needed for size/density of the creation.) Let them cool.
- To preserve your cooked clay, our Recipes for Fun guide recommends using a non-toxic, water-based sealer once they have cooled to keep them in pristine shape.
- Get out the crafting supplies! Fun ideas to decorate include paint, glitter, markers—whatever inspires creativity for your child!
