Home made playdough can be more fun and safe for your young one here are a few ways to make home made playdough.

1. To make a rubbery playdough mix 2 cups baking soda, 1 1/2 cups water, and 1 cup cornstarch with a fork until smooth. Boil over medium heat until thick, and then let it cool on a plate or wax paper.

2. To create natural playdough, take 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons oil, 2 tablespoons cream of tartar. For creating in different colors take beet, spinach, and carrot juice. Mix flour, salt and oil, and slowly add the water. Cook over medium heat, stirring until dough thickens. Transfer onto wax paper and let cool. Knead the play dough to get proper consistency. For color add a few drops of the vegetable juices to make green, pink, and orange.

3. Another way to make home made playdough is from 4 cups flour, 1/4 cup powdered tempera, 1/4 cup salt, 1 1/2 cups water, 1 tablespoon oil. Mix together flour, powdered paint and salt. Mix water and oil, and food coloring if desired. Gradually stir the water and oil mix into the flour mix. Knead the playdough as you add the liquid. Add more water if too stiff, more flour if sticky.

4. You can even create alum playdough. For this you need 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 2 tablespoons alum, 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons oil, and liquid food coloring. Pour dry ingredients into large pan. Stir together to mix. Stir oil and food coloring into the water. Pour liquid into the dry ingredients while mixing, squeezing and kneading the playdough. If too sticky, add more flour. Keeps best in the fridge.

5. Another playdough is created by mixing 1 cup flour, 1 cup water,1 tablespoon oil, 1 tablespoon powdered alum, 1/2 cup salt, 2 tablespoons vanilla and food coloring. Mix all dry ingredients. Add oil and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until reaching the consistency of mashed potatoes. Remove from heat and add vanilla and food coloring. Divide into balls and work in color by kneading the playdough.

6. The oatmeal playdough can be made by 1 cup flour, 2 cups oatmeal, 1 cup water. Gradually add water to flour and oatmeal in bowl. Kneed well it might be sticky but works well. You can even add cornmeal or coffee grounds in small quantity for texture.

7. Another way to make homemade playdough is nutty butter play dough made by simply mixing 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup powdered milk, 1 cup honey, and 1 cup oatmeal.

8. The kool aid playdough can be made by 2 1/2 to 3 cups flour, 2 cups boiling water with , 1 package Kool-aid (any flavor), 3 tablespoons corn oil, 1/2 cup salt and 1 tablespoon alum. Mix ingredients and knead with flour. Use more if the dough draws moisture in high humidity. This playdough has nice fragrance and is very colorful and very flexible.