Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Life Lessons from Play Dough!

Last week I made my son his first batch of play dough.  When it was all finished I handed it to him and said, "Ok, play with it!"  He looked at me like I was crazy and it made me realize that he didn't know how to play with it!
As I'm shaping my child's heart (my full-time occupation and blessing) I sometimes forget that not only is it my responsibility to teach him good attitudes, manners, how to eat well and clean up toys, but it is also my responsibility and privilege to show him how to be creative!
I've recently learned that creativity needs an audience to be encouraged.  Give him a pair of sunglasses and he may put them over his eyes like he's seen me do a million times, but when I laugh and praise him you can bet that he's going to do it over and over, then think of other funny ways to wear those sunglasses... the birth of his creativity!
We both learned life lessons from that little hunk of dough and I am continuing to pray that I will have a soft heart to learn the life lessons the Lord wants to teach me using something simple like play dough!  

Here's our recipe:  (Makes 3 good sized balls)
3 cups flour
3 cups boiling water
1 1/2 cups salt
6 tsp. cream of tarter
3 Tbs. oil
food coloring
In a large bowl, mix flour, salt, cream of tarter and oil.  Add boiling water and mix well.  Knead food coloring into dough on lightly floured surface.  Store in air tight container.

3 comments:

Twiddle Thumbs said...

I love homemade playdoh (and appreciate the life lesson you shared). The colors you used are so vibrant! My little ones would love this.

Tracy ~Seeking Refinement~ said...

love it! My daughter plays with play-doh when I make dinner...she loves it! I need to make some with her - thank you for the recipe!! :)

Marty said...

Do you think I can use whole wheat flour?