Fizzy Play Dough
Fizzy play dough is one of our favorite play dough recipes. We’ve made several different versions. I’ll share the list at the end. Today I wanted to share the super basic version. You can add color, cookie cutters, and toys to fit any theme you like.
How to Make Fizzy Play Dough
Why It’s Awesome
The best thing about fizzy play dough is it’s really 3 different activities rolled into one. First, you have a soft and squishy play dough. Second, you have a fizzy reaction. Third, you get a sensory foam.
Supplies Needed
- 1/2 cup corn starch
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup hair conditioner (You can also use dish soap. Choose something with a pleasant smell.)
- liquid watercolors (optional)
- vinegar
- container for mixing
- spoon
- tray or bin for play
- cookie cutters or toys for accessories
- squeeze bottles, droppers, or spoons for vinegar
How to Make Fizzy Play Dough
Mix corn starch and baking soda together in a bowl. Stir in hair conditioner.
Note: Instead of hair conditioner, you can substitute dish soap. Be sure to choose something with a pleasant smell. Otherwise, the soap smell can be overpowering.
It should start to form a dough. If the dough is too dry or crumbly, add more conditioner. The dough should be a soft, moldable dough. If the dough is too sticky, you can knead in more corn starch until it’s just right. At this point, you can add any coloring you want.
There is no wrong way to make this dough. If it’s too wet, it’s really slimy – similar to oobleck. If the dough is too dry, it makes a decent cloud dough. Crumbly and moldable. You decide what works best for you and your kids. They’ll love it regardless.
Replace the conditioner with water to make a fizzy cloud dough that’s perfect for pretend snow.
How to Play
Once you’ve made the play dough, allow your kids to experience the super soft dough for as long as you like. It’s a great play dough just like this. (You can use only corn starch and conditioner to accomplish the same thing. It just won’t fizz.)
Add cookie cutters or other play dough accessories. You can also add toys or other props to create any theme you like. We built a snowman and added some polar bears.
Make it Fizz
Take a piece of the dough (set the rest aside) and place it in a container. Invite your child to add vinegar to the play dough.
You can place the vinegar in a squeeze bottle or you can use a container and droppers or spoons. You can also color the vinegar if you choose.
If you want to stretch your vinegar a bit, you can dilute it with water. (Max 50/50. I usually do 3/4 vinegar and 1/4 water.) The more you dilute the vinegar, the less fizz you will get.
Squeeze on the vinegar or pour some on. The play dough will fizz and foam.
The Play Continues
As the play dough dissolves away, you are left with a soapy foam. It’s safe to touch and play with the foam. Because of the vinegar and soap, be careful if your child has sensitive skin or any cuts.
The Science Behind It
The baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in the play dough reacts with vinegar (acetic acid) to form water, a salt (sodium acetate), and carbon dioxide gas. The bubbles are the carbon dioxide gas escaping the liquid. The foam is created because of the addition of the conditioner (similar to lathering soap).
More Fizzy Doughs
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