It’s a delicacy that little kids have tentatively tasted with curious delight for decades. Its bold, bright colors capture their attention, its soft, malleable mushiness keeps them entertained for hours. Grind some into the carpet and you’ve got a permanent art installation. Yes, Play-Doh is a rite of childhood.

At 1-1/2 years old, my daughter’s recent first encounter with Play-Doh went just about how I thought it would: poke poke with chubby little fingers…mush…poke…tear…eat large glob while mommy is looking away…smash on the ground…step in it…grind into the soles of cute white sandals.

Embracing all of this mushy messiness as best I can for a first-time mom (I just keep replenishing my OxyClean), I was delighted to find a recipe for “Kids Play Clay” on the side of a Clabber Girl Cornstarch canister. It calls for just four simple ingredients: salt, water, food coloring and (of course) cornstarch. An added bonus for many families these days – it’s gluten-free!

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