Play-doh Day

Play-doh Day is September 16th

Whether it was finding dried bits on carpet or being curious if it really tasted as good as it looked, play doh was a large part of childhood and its smell alone can bring back a nostalgic feeling for most. Interestingly enough, this hall of fame toy was originally intended to be a wallpaper cleaner created by Joe McVicker. One day while he was having a conversation with a teacher he learned that the modeling clay in classrooms were too hard for kids to manipulate and figured his creation would be a good substitute. Teachers and kids quickly fell in love with the clay and once word spread to both Macy’s and Marshall Field’s in 1956 it became Play-Doh.

Its creation has sparked several types of merchandise, but it’s most classic, is a small mechanism called “The Fun Factory.” This allowed kids to create shapes, spaghetti, and ice cream just to name a few and as time went on, the company expanded its color palette. The company later released glitter, scented, and glow in the dark versions (“National Play-Doh Day,” 2019). 

Fun Ways to Celebrate Play-Doh Day

Celebrate with friends and family by using a unique recipe to make your own play doh, or purchase a premade kit. Make a game out of it and have a friend or family member to write down a word, give it to the person that will be doing the creating and have the rest of the group try to guess what it is. The person with the most points wins a homemade play doh crown.

Edible Marshmallow Play Doh Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 Large Marshmallows
• ¼ cup Corn Starch (slightly heaping)
• 2 tsp coconut oil (slightly heaping)
• 12 drops Liquid Food Colouring

Instructions

1. Add the marshmallows, corn starch and coconut oil to a microwave safe bowl.
2. Microwave on high for 30 seconds until the marshmallows expand.
3. Add the food colouring drops on top of the marshmallows or coconut oil (not to the corn starch).
4. Stir with a spoon to combine all the ingredients.
5. When it gets too hard to stir, kneed it by hand until the colour and ingredients are completely combined. (Be careful, it might be hot.)
6. If it's too sticky, add more corn starch. If it's still too sticky, add more coconut oil. Cover your hands in coconut oil to keep it from sticking to you.
7. Play with it on a non stick surface, such as parchment paper taped to the table or a silicone baking mat.

How Play-Doh Day Unites People

This clay has been uniting people for years and is a great opportunity to relive your childhood and introduce younger generations to the lovable clay. Sharing stories of your experiences and taking pictures will make for wonderful memories down the road.