How to Make Salt Dough

Salt dough is perfect for creative play, especially on indoor days.  Here are three benefits that highlight how valuable this activity can be for your little ones:

1. Fine Motor Skill Development

• Rolling, pinching, pressing, and shaping the dough strengthens the small muscles in hands and fingers.

• These skills are essential for writing, using scissors, buttoning clothes, and other daily tasks.

2. Encourages Creativity and Self-Expression

• Children use their imaginations to design and decorate their own unique creations.

• This open-ended play fosters decision-making, artistic expression and storytelling.

3. Language and Communication Skills

• Describing what they’re making, choosing colours, or explaining their ideas promotes vocabulary growth and conversational skills.

• Great for group play or guided adult interaction.

Here’s a quick and simple recipe for making it!

Basic Salt Dough Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups plain (all-purpose) flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 cup water (add gradually)

Instructions:

• Mix the flour and salt together in a bowl
• Slowly add water, stirring continuously, until it forms a dough
• Knead the dough for about 5–10 minutes until smooth
• Shape as desired (cookie cutters work great for children)
• To harden, bake in a low oven (around 100°C / 210°F) for 2–3 hours, or until dry and firm
• Once cooled, paint and decorate!
• Finish with a clear sealant to preserve the creations (optional but recommended – more details on how to do this below)

Salt Dough Creation Ideas:

Handprint or Footprint Plaques

• Press a child’s hand or foot into a circle of dough.

  

• Add their name and the date with a toothpick.

• Great keepsake or gift for parents and grandparents!

Ornaments (Seasonal or Everyday)

• Use cookie cutters to make stars, hearts, animals, or letters.

• Poke a hole at the top before baking for hanging.

• Perfect for Christmas, birthdays, or just for fun.

Nature Prints

• Press leaves, flowers or shells into the dough for beautiful textures.

• Paint with natural colours for a rustic effect.

Name or Letter Shapes

• Roll out the dough into “snakes” and form letters to spell out names.

• These can be painted and used for door signs or bedroom decoration.

Animal Figures

• Make simple animals like snakes, turtles (a ball with a shell pattern), or ladybugs.

• Use small beads, pasta, or lentils for eyes or texture before baking.

Treasure Maps or Fossils

• Flatten dough and carve a pirate-style treasure map or press in small dinosaur toys to make “fossils.”

• Paint with earthy tones afterward.

Food Play Sets

• Make pretend cookies, pizzas, fruits or cupcakes

• Ideal for play kitchens or pretend tea parties

Sealing Salt Dough Creations

Sealing helps protect from moisture, especially if you plan to keep the creations long-term.

After painting (when completely dry):

• Use a clear acrylic spray sealant (quick and easy), or

• Apply Mod Podge, PVA glue, or water-based varnish with a brush.

• Seal all sides, including the bottom, to prevent future softening or mould.

• Let dry thoroughly between coats (1–2 coats is usually enough).

• Paint first, then seal. Acrylic paints work best on salt dough.

We hope you and your little ones enjoy this activity!