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Salt Dough Projects to Make for Dad

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Father's Day crafts for kids to make.

Sometimes it’s hard to come up with project ideas for holidays that can also be considered learning activities, but I think making things with salt dough fits that category.

If the kids help you make the dough, you’re getting some math in with measuring, science in the mixing of ingredients to make the dough, and a bit of sensory play as you work the dough. And making the project itself is art, so there’s a lot going on in these simple projects.

There are lots of recipes for salt dough and air-dry clay out there, but an easy one is to mix a cup of salt and two cups of flour with enough water to make a rollable, moldable dough (start with about 3/4 of a cup of water).

What to do with the salt dough once it’s made? Here are some great ideas to make for Father’s Day:

And while this one is clay, not salt dough, the DIY Marbled Clay jewelry dish from Rhythms of Play is gorgeous, too. And in a similar vein, but a little more involved/time consuming/messy, there’s the Father’s Day stepping stone from Kids Activities Blog.

Do you like to make gifts for Father’s Day? I’d love to hear what you’re planning.

Did you know Father’s Day was founded in Washington in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd, Its first celebration was in the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910. Her father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, was a single parent who raised his six children there and the day was created to honour him and it’s achievements as a single father.

Looking for more salt dough projects? check these salt dough crafts out on our sister site Craftbits.com

If you are looking for an airdrying clay as an alternative I highly recommend Das Airdrying white clay  I have been using it for over 30 years and it never fails me.

Comments

  2. Thanks for sharing this list! I love finding ways for the kids to make gifts instead of purchasing something from the store.

Have you read?

Fall Sensory Ideas for Kids

A few years ago I shared some pumpkin themed sensory activities for kids, but I wanted to get a little more general and do some fall sensory ideas that can take you from Halloween al the way to Thanksgiving. 

Playdough is a classic sensory activity, especially if kids can help make it, too. These playdough recipes from The Montessori Twin Mama are fall colored and scented with cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and apple pie spice (I honestly don’t know what the difference is!). Or try this fun maple playdough from Happy Toddler Playtime.

Throw together some cookie cutters, googly eyes and other fun things to make an easy fall playdough tray (similar to what I did on this Halloween playdough activity). 

How about some fall themed slime? Natural Beach Living gave a basic slime recipe a fall twist with food coloring and glitter. Leaf shaped sequins make it even more fun. Little Bins for Little Hands also has a cinnamon slime, which is great for fall but can also carry you all the way through Christmas. 

Raising Wild Things Sensory has some great easy to make fall themed sensory bottles, which you can add fall things to, or pompoms or whatever kind of I spy items you might want to include. They also have a fun apple moon sand sensory bin that has me wondering if you could add something scented to moon sand (I always hated the smell!). 

And of course there are all kinds of sensory bins you can make for fall. I like this apple picking one from Happy Toddler Playtime that uses fake leaves and little apple toys. It has the added challenge of trying to pick the apples up through a mesh of branches — kind of like a low-tech game of Operation!

You can also do a short-lived sensory bin with real leaves, or use any kind of beans, brown rice, oats or lentils to make your base. Some more great ideas can be found at Fab Everyday. Their post includes some specific Halloween and Thanksgiving themed sensory bins, too. 

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