Preschoolers love to create unique pieces of art that they can share with their families. This salt dough handprint allows preschoolers to participate in the process from beginning to end.

What You Need

One Recipe Salt Dough (Posted Below)
Toxic Free Paint
A sharpened pencil
A rolling pin
Wax Paper
A large baking sheet

Preschool Baked Salt Dough

Small Batch
1 1/2 cups salt
1 1/2 cups water
4 cups flour

Large Batch
3 cups salt
3 cups water
8 cups flour

Mix together the salt and flour. Add the water a little bit at a time until a soft dough forms. Knead the dough until it becomes smooth. If the dough is too dry you can add small amounts of water at a time.

Preschoolers can help to make this simple salt dough. Have preschoolers help measure the ingredients and take turns pouring them into a bowl. Separate the dough into small amounts and allow each preschooler to knead together their portion. Allow preschoolers to experiment with the dough before creating a handprint.

What To Do

When the salt dough has been formed, preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Give each preschooler a small ball of clay. Show the preschoolers how to use a rolling pin to form a flat pancake-like shape. Flatten each ball of clay so that it is almost an inch thick. If the handprint is too thin it will crack after baking. Help each preschooler push their hand into the center of the dough to create a handprint. Use a dull knife, if desired, to create a smooth edge around the handprint.

Help preschoolers write their name in the dough beneath their handprint using a sharpened pencil. When preschoolers are satisfied with their handprint, cover a large cookie sheet with wax paper and gently place the salt dough handprints down on top. Bake for 30 minutes in the oven or until the dough hardens.

Allow the salt dough handprints to cool completely. Using a non-toxic tempera paint, let preschoolers paint their cooled handprint any way they like.

Holiday Gifts for Preschoolers

This preschool art activity makes a wonderful gift to parents for Christmas, Mothers day, Fathers day, or at the end of the school year. Decorate the handprint to fit the occasion by painting it in a variety of colors and writing different words in the dough.