Salt Dough Sculptures

What you need

• flour
• salt
• water
• paint (after baking)

How to do it

1. 1Mix two cups flour, one cup salt, half a cup water and say: 'We're making sculpting dough.' Knead five minutes.
2. 2Sculpt anything. Change your mind as many times as needed before it goes in the oven.
3. 3Bake at 120°C for two to three hours. Cool completely before touching.
4. 4Paint once cool. Display it somewhere visible, not in a drawer.

Variations

• Korb-Tür: If they're hesitant or make something they immediately reject, reassure them: 'You can squish it back into a ball and start over. No waste.' Watch them reshape it. Perfectionists relax when they know reset is allowed.
• Ausstieg: When sculpting energy is done, say: 'Let's wrap this up and bake it tomorrow morning.' Put the sculpture on a plate in the oven (not yet baking), marking a pause point. Return to it later.

What your child develops

• Three-dimensional thinking — sculpting requires planning a 3D form
• Fine motor — pinching, rolling, and shaping builds hand strength and dexterity
• Deferred gratification — the object gets better after waiting (baking, painting)

Safety notes

• Adult supervision required for oven use.