Color changing play dough is so much fun! It’s a cool experiment to do with kids and so fun to play with too.
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I try my best to be a fun mom. What I want most is for my kids to look back on their childhoods and have tons of cool memories. I try to find lots of crafts and experiments for us to do together so we can make memories.
My kids really enjoyed making this Kool Aid play dough so I thought it would be cool to try out this color changing play dough. It’s actually super easy to make and my kids thought it was the coolest thing ever.
How does it change colors?
Color changing play dough is made with a special pigment that changes color when in contact with heat which in this case will be your hands. Ours turned yellow from red when touched.
Ingredients needed
To make this play dough, you will need:
- All purpose flour: The base of the play dough recipe.
- Salt: The second part of the play dough base.
- Cream of tartar: This helps the play dough stay fresh for longer and keeps it from crumbling.
- Water: Use warm water for best results
- Vegetable oil: You’ll need two tablespoons of vegetable oil for this recipe.
- Color changing pigment: I used this type of color changing pigment from Amazon. According to the description it is non-toxic and specifically states it is safe for making slime or play dough with. We used red to yellow, the 5g size option.
Is this play dough taste safe?
This recipe is not meant to be eaten or tasted. This is best for older kids who no longer put things in their mouths.
Is the pigment safe to use for play dough?
I used this brand from Amazon. The item description states, “NON-TOXIC – This powder is safe for skin contact and uses no harsh chemicals (but not intended for consumption). Great for making color-changing slime, play dough, Sugru, Polymorph, and nail polish.”
How to store
Store this play dough in an airtight container at room temperature. Ours is still good after several weeks.
Other fun play dough posts:
Color Changing Play Dough
Equipment
- Cooking pot
Materials
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ¾ cup salt plus 1 tablespoon
- 1 ½ tablespoons cream of tartar
- 2 cups warm water
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 5 grams color changing pigment
Instructions
- In a large cooking pot, add all of the ingredients except for the color changing pigment.
- Stir well and cook over medium heat.
- Continue to stir over medium heat for about five minutes or until the dough has thickened.
- Continue to stir to avoid any lumps.
- Once the dough has thickened, remove from heat and transfer to wax paper or a large bowl.
- Let the dough cool and then add in the color changing pigment. You may need to knead the pigment in several times.
Notes
- Store this play dough in an airtight container at room temperature. Ours is still good after several weeks.
- There is no need to add food coloring, the pigment will color the dough.
- Make sure to get the 5g size or bigger of pigment as there are different size options.
Wendy says
Where do you find the color changing pigment?
Audrey says
Hi Wendy, it is on amazon. I linked to the exact one we used in the post. Hope that helps!
MyWorldTheirWay says
This looks like such a fun experiment to do with kids.