DIY Activity: Forest Putty

At Tinkergarten, one of our favorite tools for learning and exploration is “forest putty.” What is forest putty you ask? Play dough you can (and do!) take outdoors!

How Kids Play with Forest Putty

Forest putty, just like the play dough you know and love, is a perfect material for making, discovering and even building. As teachers, we often just included forest putty within the play environment, allowing explorers (i.e. kids) to identify just when and how to use it to boost their play.

To follow are some of the many ways forest putty can be woven into playful learning:

• Offer forest putty as a building material. Kids can stick all kinds of things into the putty. Or they can use putty to bind objects like sticks and rocks together.

• Use forest putty to make prints or even mimic animal tracks using nature treasures like sticks, tree fruits or rocks.

• Make and gather impressions of tree bark or other textured objects in nature.

• Make models of “tiny friends” like insects, reptiles and other critters by starting with forest putty and adding nature treasures in just the right places.

• Offer forest putty as a less overwhelming alternative to mud in the mud kitchen or on muddy play days.

How to Make Your Own Putty

The Tinkergarten "forest putty" recipe is a simple, no-cook playdough that can be made with common kitchen staples. Nature items like dirt, leaves, or flower petals are added to give it a "forest" feel and scent. You can also add kitchen spices or herbs (dried or fresh) to boost the sensory impact.

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour

• ½ cup salt

• 2 tsp cream of tartar (optional, but helps with elasticity)

• 1 tbsp oil (olive, coconut, or vegetable oil work well)

• ¾ cup warm water (add gradually as needed)

• Optional: Dirt, sand, dried lavender, petals, or spices like turmeric (for color) or cinnamon (for color and scent)

Instructions

1. Combine dry ingredients: In a bowl, mix the flour, salt, and cream of tartar.

2. Add wet ingredients: Stir in the oil and gradually add the warm water until the mixture is soft and smooth. The consistency should resemble cake batter before thickening into dough.

3. Knead: Knead the mixture until it forms a smooth, consistent dough. Adjust as needed with a sprinkle of flour if it is too sticky, or a drizzle of water if it is too crumbly.

4. Add nature elements: Incorporate your chosen "forest" elements, such as dirt, sand, or crushed petals, and knead them into the dough.

5. Store: Store the finished forest putty in an airtight container or a sealed plastic bag when not in use to keep it soft.

Why This is Great for Kids

Play with forest putty provides a marvelous, multi-sensory experience. It also supports one of the 3-Bs of creativity, blending. Taking play dough outside and getting it (gasp) dirty is also an act so freeing that it can actually boost kids willingness to take risks, innovate and make discoveries. When kids mix, mash and smoosh nature treasures into forest putty, they also activate two, powerful behavioral schema: connecting and transforming. Plus, it’s just so darn fun!