THE BOMB play dough recipe.....

2 c. flour
1 c. salt
2 Tablespoons cream of tartar
2 Tablespoons veg. oil
2 c. water
food coloring

Mix it all together in a pan over medium heat, stirring constantly. It is finished when it forms itself into a ball around the spoon.
Cool on wax paper, knead to mix all together, and store sealed.

Play Dough is one of the best early childhood materials EVER! Promotes fine motor skills, encourages practical life skills such as cutting, rolling, scooping, stirring, etc., fosters dramatic play, allows for tactile sensations, of course creativity, promotes vocabulary development, and encourages counting and literacy development.

Some skills that can be taught with play dough (in order of difficulty)
-rolling a ball (practice "size words"--roll small, tiny, huge balls....also encourages counting.)
-get 10 small paper plates. Put a circle sticker or draw a small circle corresponding to the number--ie: Draw a 1 and put one circle. Draw a 2 and put two circles. Then encourage child to put that number of balls on the plate, on top of the drawn circle.
-roll a ball, then roll that into a snake (wrist control, more size discussion--short, long)
-draw a large letter on paper and use snakes to lay on the letter lines (or number lines) (ie: trace an "A" with playdough snakes