This is modified from a blog post from Thttp://aspergersinfo.wordpress.com/2012/03/28/home-made-play-dough-for-sensory-play/.
Some children may be tactile defensive and although Play-Doh is known to be something of a sensory delight for children on the autism spectrum, for some it may be nothing other than disgusting!
Children may hate both the texture and smell that came with handling Play-Doh. However, home-made play dough doesn't have the same strong smell as store-bought stuff.
Play dough is a great way of introducing a range of different textures to a child with sensory processing difficulties, as its texture can be changed dramatically with the added addition of one of two substances, such as coarse glitter or sand.
Another great way to use play dough as a sensory tool for children who are tactile defensive is to bury stuff within it and then get your child used to the different sensations by dishing around to retrieve it. This is also a great game to do with sand, gooey mixture or even coloured water.
So, if you fancy cooking up some play dough for your sensory seeker or for the use of some sensory games, here's how:
You will need:
Cream of Tartar (2 large spoonfuls)
Table salt (Half cup)
Flour (2 small cups)
Oil (1 small spoonful)
Water (1 small cup)
Food Colouring
Place a cup of water in a saucepan, add 1/2 a cup of table salt and the 2 large spoonfuls of cream a tartar.
Mix 1 drop of oil to 3 drops of food colouring adding it to the pan, heat till warm.
Remove and tip into a mixing bowl, add a cup and a 1/2 of flour and mix.
Next sprinkle some flour onto a clean surface or chopping board, knead the mixture till smooth and you have a dough like consistency, ensuring it’s not sticky. (If sticky add more flour).
Add the play dough to an air tight container so it can be reused over and over again.