Dough Kneading Workout
Flour and water turn from a sticky mess into a smooth elastic ball under a child's hands. Loud, floury and strangely calming.
What you need
- Wheat flour, about three cups
- Warm water, about one cup
- A pinch of salt
- A spoonful of oil
- A big bowl
- Music
How to play
- Tip the flour and salt into a bowl and let your child make a hollow in the middle with a fist.
- Pour warm water and oil into the hollow while your child stirs with a spoon.
- Move the sticky lump onto a floured table and put on a song.
- Show the push-fold-turn rhythm and knead along with the music until the song ends.
- Stop and compare: sticky and lumpy at the start, smooth and springy now.
- Poke the ball with one finger and watch the dent slowly rise back.
- Shape the dough into snails and rings — bake them yourself if you like, or keep the ball in the fridge for tomorrow.
