Play Dough for Kids

1 cup flour
½ cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar

Combine above ingredients in a large saucepan.

Gradually stir in:
1 cup water
2 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon food coloring
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until a ball forms. Remove from heat and knead until smooth.

Add a scent to it! Try the extracts...peppermint, almond, vanilla, etc...Just like a tsp or so is usually plenty. And I like to let the kids play in it as soon as its cooled enough to not burn them, but still warm. They love that! Simple tools, that you can add for them to use :

plastic knives/forks/spoons
straws
very dull pizza cutter (or toy plastic one)
toothpicks
popsicle sticks
cookie cutters (just basic shapes...circle, square...)
tin can (use tape on edges)