Gift of the Magi Play Dough

Christmas is all about The Nativity and the birth of Jesus. As we often do in our house, we discuss and learn topics through reading. The Nativity Story is one that we read together every year, and love to find variations with beautiful illustrations. This Gift of the Magi play dough represents the gifts of gold and frankincense (we omitted Myrrh as I have heard varying things about it being kid-safe). Frankincense essential oil has stress-relieving and anxiety reducing properties, making this a perfect calming holiday sensory tool.

Make your own calming gift of the magi play dough with this simple recipe that you can use in connection with The Christmas Story for sensory play.

Gift of the Magi Play Dough

We like to make play dough from scratch. It is easy to make (I prefer no-cook), makes large batches, and lasts for quite some time. Our favorite recipe is similar to this one from The Imagination Tree, with a bit of a twist.

What you need:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1/2 salt
  • 1 tbsp alum (we use this instead of cream of tartar)
  • fine gold glitter
  • 1 1/4 cup hot water
  • Frankincense Essential Oil

What to do:

  1. Mix flour, vegetable oil, salt, alum and glitter in a bowl.
  2. Add hot water slowly, mixing until the right consistency. (If too wet, add more flour; if too dry, add more water).
  3. Once play dough has formed, add 6-7 drops of frankincense.
  4. Continue to knead and soften the dough.

Make your own calming gift of the magi play dough with this simple recipe that you can use in connection with The Christmas Story for sensory play.

Calming Sensory and Pretend Play

The properties of the essential oil combined with the stress-reducing qualities of sensory play, make this the ultimate play dough experience. I have to say, I LOVE the smell of the oil and so do my kids, it is so festive and woodsy. My kids dug right in squishing and squeezing the dough.

Make your own calming gift of the magi play dough with this simple recipe that you can use in connection with The Christmas Story for sensory play.

We read The Nativity book while we played with the play dough. Additionally, to represent myrrh (a resin from a small thorny tree) we incorporated a small, fake ‘Christmas tree’. The kids enjoyed pressing the tree into the sparkling dough and making impressions.

Make your own calming gift of the magi play dough with this simple recipe that you can use in connection with The Christmas Story for sensory play.

We hope you enjoy this play dough recipe and have a wonderful time playing with it and your kids! Let us know what you think of it, and if you really love it, we hope you share it with your friends. Happy Holidays!

Make your own calming gift of the magi play dough with this simple recipe that you can use in connection with The Christmas Story for sensory play.

Out Now! – Countdown to Christmas Ebook

When life gets hectic in the lead up to Christmas wouldn’t it be great to be able to spend a little time with the family creating gifts for others, food to enjoy together and traditions that make magical Christmas Memories?

But what actually happens is you spend hours searching through Pinterest looking for ideas and realise halfway through saying you are going to start that you have only 1 thing on the materials list!

I’ve been there!

So that is why we’ve put together our 24 favourite Christmas Activities, Crafts and Recipes with full materials lists and step-by-step instructions so that you have everything at your fingertips.

Produced as a PDF you can download, print and use these ideas throughout the festive season with your children and families.

Find out more as we share with your our Favourite Ways to Countdown to Christmas.


headshotKatie believes that children learn best through play and hands-on experiences, this is why she writes at the blog, Views From a Step Stool.

She brings her background in special education and her Master’s in Educational Psychology together to write about and develop kids activities that engage the senses and provoke curiosity.

She has co-authored the best-selling book, The Undeniable Power of Play and can be found on Facebook and Instagram sharing her activities and daily life with her 3 young children.

 


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Make your own calming gift of the magi play dough with this simple recipe that you can use in connection with The Christmas Story for sensory play.

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Make your own calming gift of the magi play dough with this simple recipe that you can use in connection with The Christmas Story for sensory play.

Author
Cerys Parker

Cerys is a marine biologist, environmental educator, teacher, mum, and home educator from the UK. She loves getting creative, whether it is with simple and easy crafts and ideas, activities to make learning fun, or delicious recipes that you and your kids can cook together you'll find them all shared here on Rainy Day Mum.

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