RECIPE
EARLY LITERACY TIP
RECIPE
Bubble Stuff
Bubbles are a great activity to do
with babies and small children. Blow bubbles for your baby to
watch to stimulate their growing
mind!
Gluten free
Playdough
What you need:
1 cup light Karo syrup
2 cups Dawn dish soap (the
plain concentrate)
6 cups water
What you do:
• Mix together, let set 4 hours
before using.
• Use outside, the Karo makes
it sticky for inside!
What you need:
1 cup rice flour
1 cup salt
1 cup cornstarch
2 packages unsweetened
koolaid
(for color and scent)
3 teaspoons alum
1-1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil
What you do:
• Mix dry ingredients together
in bowl.
• Add 1 cup boiling water, oil,
and mix together.
• Add more water to make
it less dry. Add more corn
starch to make it less wet.
EARLY LITERACY TIP
Play dough is a great way for
kids to be creative in an open
ended way. You can enhance the
experience by TALKING to your
child, asking
questions and introducing new
words while they play.
RECIPE
EARLY LITERACY TIP
RECIPE
EARLY LITERACY TIP
Peanut Butter Play
Dough
This recipe is great for little
ones who still put things in
their mouth. Through playing
with play dough, your child will
strengthen their hands while
having a fun sensory experience. Bath Tub Paint
TALK to your child and help
them learn letters, numbers and
shapes during bath time. Kids
are easily motivated to learn
how to spell and write their own
name!
What you need:
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
1-1/2 cups dry milk
What you do:
• Mix and knead.
• Use as an edible play dough
adding raisins, nuts, pretzels,
cereal, etc. for features.
What you need:
1/3 cup liquid soap
1 tablespoon cornstarch
A few drops of food coloring
What you do:
• Stir together the soap and
the cornstarch in a small
cup.
• Pour the mixture into a tray,
like a muffin tin or ice cube
tray. Pour separate amounts
to create more colors.
• Add 1 or 2 drops of color to
each part of the mixture and
stir.
RECIPE
EARLY LITERACY TIP
RECIPE
EARLY LITERACY TIP
Slimey Putty
Slimey putty promotes
imagination and creativity
through PLAY. It is also a great
activity to promote dexterity and
to strengthen muscles in little
hands and fingers.
Moon Sand
PLAY is a great way for children
to use their imagination which
will help them get ready to read! What you need:
1-1/2 cups of CLEAR glue
1-1/2 cups of liquid starch
A few drops of food coloring
What you do:
• A few drops of food coloring
• Stir all ingredients together
• separate the slime into a few
small bowls and add food
coloring to each bowl.
• You only need a few drops of
food coloring
What you need:
9 cups extra fine play sand
3 cups cornstarch
2-1/4 to 2-1/2 cups water
What you do:
• Mix sand and cornstarch
• Gradually add water and
continue adding water,
mixing well, until you have
the desired consistency.
• Cover and store in an
airtight container.
RECIPE
EARLY LITERACY TIP
RECIPE
EARLY LITERACY TIP
Sidewalk Paint
Use this paint on a hot day for
a fun outdoor activity. Help
your child draw pictures and
WRITE the names to go with the
pictures.
Edible Paint
TALK with your child about how
the paint feels, what color they
are using, and what happens
when they mix colors together.
What you need:
1/4 cup of cornstarch
1/2 cup water
food coloring
What you do:
• Combine the cornstarch and
water and mix until smooth.
• Add a few drops of food
coloring. Make more
batches for multiple colors
• Use paintbrushes, foam
paint rollers or sponges to
paint the sidewalk.
What you need:
Light Corn Syrup
Food Coloring
What you do:
• Use one tablespoon of corn
syrup for each color desired
• Mix a few drop of food
coloring into the corn syrup.
• Paint using fingers on paper.