Home » Sensory Play

How to Make Jello Playdough

ByAngela Thayer

Looking for a fun sensory activity? Try making jello playdough! It smells amazing and it is so smooth. This may be my favorite playdough we have ever made!

jello playdough

Here’s what you need:

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup salt
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
  • 1 package of Jello (sugar-free or regular)
Jello Playdough

Mix all the ingredients together and cook over low on the stove. Stir frequently. I used a whisk to get rid of the clumps and then cooked for 5-7 minutes, stirring with a spatula. Once the dough starts to gather together into a ball and doesn’t stick to your fingers (see the picture below), then you can take it off the stove.

jelloplaydough

After it cools for a minute, knead it on a cutting board. That’s all you do! We made 3 colors and stored them in these small Ziploc containers. I liked these little containers because I divided the colors evenly for both boys.

Check out how to make it with the video below.

Jello Playdough

This is a fun sensory activity and great to make on a day when you need to keep the little ones busy! Play dough is awesome for building strength in hands, which helps with prewriting skills and fine motor skills. Let them squish, roll, cut, and explore the playdough with their little fingers.

My preschooler loves practicing scissor skills with playdough. He uses  preschool scissors, which are easy to use with playdough and are very safe.

scissors with playdough

Have you tried making jello playdough? I highly recommend it!

how to make jello play dough

Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Jello Playdough

Servings: 1 play dough

Ingredients

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup salt
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
  • 1 package Jello This can be sugar-free or regular. You will want the small package of Jello.

Instructions

  • Mix all of the ingredients together into a pot.
  • Place the pot on the stove on low-medium heat.
  • Stir frequently. Once the dough starts to gather together and form a ball, remove it from the heat.
  • After it cools for a minute, add some flour to it and knead it.

Sharing is caring!

Similar Posts

95 Comments

  1. do the kids’ hands get colored? I couldn’t tell from the photos.

  3. Beautiful colors!
    Did you use the recipe to make all 3 colors?

    1. Good question. I used this recipe for just 1 color. So I made 3 batches 🙂

  5. Does the jell-o give this play dough a different texture than regular homemade play dough? I usually use kool-aid and am wondering if this would be different?

    1. I think it is smoother than kool-aid playdough. I do not think it is significantly different.

  8. Debbie @ http://kidsbibledebjackson.blogspot.com/ says:

    This play dough has great color! I will pin it and be back! Thanks for sharing at TMTP!

  9. I love this — I’ll have to see if I can create a version for my gluten-free boy 🙂

  10. What a fun idea! Quick question for you . . . do I need to use sugar free jello or can I use the regular kind? Thank you!

    1. Hi Sarah! I am not sure if the regular kind works. I only use the sugar free kind. Let me know if you try it out!

      1. I just made it with Regular Jello and it turned out great! 🙂

        1. Awesome to know! I was going to ask the same question. I can’t wait to make this!

          1. Good to know ! I’m living in a very small town ( I don’t even think this is a town) and there was only like 3 sort of sugar-free jello so I’m super happy if the regular work too, I’ll be able to do more color. Kids are super happy and so am I because regular play dough is kindda giving me eczema on the hands because of the colouring. This won’t do and it smells sooooooo good ! Thank you ! 🙂

        2. How long can you use it before it goes off

    2. I’ve heard of making it with koolaid too:)

Comments are closed.