We first found out about Cloud Dough in the summer and Monkey had great fun playing with it outside. You can read about it here. It was fab and I have thought about making it again but I am not always fond of REALLY messy play indoors, I do it, but I have to work myself up to it and prepare myself for the clean up operation!
As I have created the Creative Challenge Linky I felt I really should challenge myself to have some indoor fun with cloud dough.
Ingredients
What is Cloud Dough? It is Flour mixed with Baby Oil. It’s something like 8 parts flour to 1 part baby oil but I have to say I don’t really measure it. What’s the point in it? Well it turns to the consistency of sand, though has a much silkier texture. Otherwise you can play with it like wet sand, build things with it or just have a good old play.
I got a Tuff Spot ages ago with grand plans about this kind of messy play, but so far I have been too chicken to play with anything other than Play Doh in it. I just don’t trust monkey to keep things INSIDE the tuff spot. But as I said, this is as much about challenging myself as it is Monkey having fun and learning so we went for it.
And, do you know what? It was great! He has a whale of a time, as you can see! And yes, a bit of cloud dough managed to escape the confines of the Tuff Spot but it all got hoovered up
It started off quite sedately.. and he was moving some toys around in the cloud dough.
Then it got messier…
and messier…
then he had a little dance to “wind the bobbin up” in his head (a definite sign he is enjoying himself a lot).
He had a good stomp around..
and well he was covered from head to toe, but he absolutely adored it, which was great.
And it wasn’t too much of a nightmare to clean up, just pulled his clothes off and wiped his hands and feet and that was it. The cloud dough is in a tub to play with on another day, the tuff spot had a wipe and the floor a hoover and it was not too bad.
Phew! Successful Messy Play!
A quick word to the wise, if you do end up playing with it outside, like we did in the summer, make sure you sweep as much up as you can. Because our garden is a tip we left a pile of cloud dough in the corner of the patio, big mistake! It is a now a bit gunky pile of yukky stuff! It goes pretty disgusting when it has been rained on!
I think I need a tuff spot then! The mess makes me a bit panicky, though..!
Yeah I am still pretty terrified by it, but the tuff spot definitely helps! xx
Looks like he had good fun, I’m not sure I’d be looking forward to cleaning up the mess though! #letkidsbekids
He did have great fun and cleaning up the mess wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be! xx
Well done with the messy play! It looks like he had a lot of fun and very messy!
Thanks for sharing #LetKidsBeKids
Thank you, he really did love it, which was the main thing, and the mess was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be, thankfully! xx
It’s official! YOU ARE THE BRAVEST MAMA I’VE COME ACROSS!!
There can’t be an ounce of control freak in you at all… I love your pics and the freedom you’ve given your little one to discover and play!
wow!
hahaha thank you, I wish I was that brave, but I am trying to be braver! Believe me there is a whole lot of control freak in me, but I also want to be the best mummy I can be, which pushes me to try and get over myself for his sake. Not easy though! Thank you, it was definitely worth it, even if I felt on edge the whole time! xx
Terrifying. Like moon sand – gets everywhere lol! Quite relieved we are long past messy play!
Ha ha ha yup terrifying! But lots of fun too 🙂 xx
We’ve done this, my 4yo absolutely loved it! A tuff spot is great isn’t it 🙂 #LetKidsBeKids
Yes and actually I have you to thank, I saw the tuff spot on your blog for the first time! So Thank you! I was sceptical but it really does help to contain the mess! Which means, lots more messy play fun to be had! 🙂 xx
Wow, I’d not heard of Cloud Dough until now! Looks great fun but suitably messy!
haha it is great fun, but definitely messy! 🙂 xx
What a great idea! I’ve not thought of that before. Mind you I don’t have a tuff thingamajig-is it ŵorth it? I worry about where to store it when it’s not being used.
It is a lot of fun, you should try it! The tuff spot definitely helps contain it, but they are huge. Ours basically lives in the conservatory now as I don’t know where else to store it – other than the garage or something! xx
Looks amazing this stuff, and so simple to make! I keep thinking when we get our house with a garden I’ll get a tuff spot!
It is amazing and dead simple, so it’s great if you need a quick activity! The tuff spot definitely helps with the mess though! 🙂 xx
I love this!!! Never heard of cloud dough before but sounds fabulous!!! And Monkey obviously had a brilliant time!! Will defo be trying this with Boo! (With the Hoover on hand nearby!) x
Ha ha brilliant! You should definitely give it a go, Boo will love it!! A hoover on hand is definitely a must though! 🙂 xx
This looks right up our street – thanks for the heads up about not leaving it in the rain.
Brilliant! Ha ha yeah don’t want anyone ruining their garden, better to learn from our mistakes! 🙂 xx
I love this idea, thanks for sharing #MMWBH x
Pleasure! 🙂 xx
That looks like great fun but OMG at the mess! Lol! Thinking about getting a Tuff Spot too! #MMWBlogHop
Ha ha your monkey’s would love it! A Tuff Spot is definitely worth having, especially when it comes to this amount of mess! xx
I think I’m going to have to make cloud dough! Can imagine it would be fun too with a bit of glitter in it – we love glitter at the moment! #MMWBH
ooh glitter would be amazing in it! Haha love it, I’m sure you’ll all have a lot of fun with it! Keep meaning to get glitter out for monkey… but I’m a bit nervous of it going everywhere!! xx
Haha, I have to psych myself up for the messy play indoors too. It normally drives me to drink! BUT, you and your new linky have inspired me. I’m blaming the mess on you 😉
Ha ha I am so with you! yay though! Very glad to inspire you, we can get over our fears together! Haha I can’t wait to see the mess I am responsible for! 🙂 xx
Wonderful stuff! This really makes me want to go out and get a tuff tray… And I’d never heard of this cloud dough stuff, so thanks for the inspiration!
Ps my son is a huge Wind The Bobbin Up fan too…
#MMWBH
Brilliant, you are more than welcome! You should definitely give it a go! 🙂 Ooh yay glad to find another wind the bobbin fan! 🙂 xx
Ahh he looks like he had the best time!! Hopefully that made cleaning up the mess a bit easier 🙂 xx
He really did have a fab time and the cleaning up wasn’t too bad really, thankfully! 🙂 xx
That looks like such a lot of fun!! x
haha thanks, it was! xx
Wow! I’ve never heard of Cloud Dough – it looks great 🙂 I have to say that I am a bit OCD when it comes to mess of this kind in the house but I bet it is fantastic for outdoors! Thank you for linking to PoCoLo x
It is a lot of fun but I can totally understand why you may not want it in the house – I really had to gear myself up for it! xx
Grace says: This is AWESOME! I am SO going to ask my Mum if I can have some of this. I bet she won’t let me have it in the house though! Thank you for linking to Mini Creations xx
Ha ha I’m sure you can persuade her Grace – you’ll love it! xx
Looks so much fun – have pinned to my Play Time board on Pinterest #PoCoLo
ooh brilliant, it’s great fun! 🙂 xx
That looks such fun. It wasn’t something I ever came across when the boys were young enough to enjoy it like Monkey obviously did. Pasta play was what they loved and I still wonder who much dried pasta we left under units when we moved!
haha oh I know the feeling – dried pasta gets everywhere! 🙂 The Cloud dough is great fun too though, just very messy! 🙂 xx
Lucas says – Every week Monkey just gets more and more awesome. Personally, I always like to freak the Mother out when it comes to messy play! I always find that threatening the soft furnishings with a little ‘involvement’ helps……………
Thanks for linking to #minicreations
Thanks Lucas haha I bet you do! 🙂 xx