Gluten Free Play-Doh Alternative: Mama K's Play Clay

I've said before that Play-Doh may be fun but it is NOT Gluten Free - we are a Play-Doh free household. Which makes my daughter sad. She loves play-doh. And every holiday that the kids have goody bags at school or birthday party where she comes home with those teeny Play-Doh tubs she gets so excited to play with it. I'll let her play with it while her brother is in school and then pretty much as soon as she turns around I throw it out! I don't want play-doh in my house since my son is on a gluten free diet. It gives me mean mama complex, but I know I'm doing it for my son's good. He's made such huge improvement on the gluten free diet that eliminating play-doh from the kids play repertoire is really a small sacrifice. So, I was thrilled to be able to try out a new gluten free play-doh alternative called Mama K's aromatic Play Clay.

This scented gluten free clay was developed by Kari Erickson (Mama K), a mother of 2, from Seattle. The Play Clay is made with gluten free flour, extra virgin olive oil, vegetable colorants and pure essential oils. The packaging is re-usable and recyclable and the labels are printed on 100% recycled paper. The re-usable 4oz tubs sell for $4 a piece with the exception of chamomile which is priced $1 more. You can get a tube of 5 scents (chamomile not included) for $20, the tube also serves as a fairly airtight storage solution for the clay when not in use. Mama K will also refill your empty tubs for $2 plus shipping.

The play clay comes in 6 aromatherapy scents:

Chamomile - to relax
Bergamot - for tension

Lavender - to sooth

Geranium -to balance

Sweet Orange - to uplift

Lemongrass - to inspire

My kids are stir crazy this week. Its spring break and pouring rain. We'd had one too many fights today over the Wii Fit and I believe we've already memorized the Bedtime Stories DVD that we just got 3 days ago from the GFCF Easter Bunny! The GFCF Easter Bunny had also brought us a complete set of the Mama K's gluten free play clay, and I knew this was just the right time. When I offered up for them to try out the play clay they both sprinted into the kitchen as if I'd just announced dessert was on the table.

Alex, at 8 years old, is starting to outgrow play-doh appeal but he's usually game to try out something fun. He liked the Lemongrass and Sweet Orange scents the best, no surprise there as he loves things that are lemon-lime scent (even his Omega3 supplement). I had to remind him a few times that it wasn't food and not to eat it before he went back to playing with the Wii Fit. My 4 year old daughter sat and played and played and played with the clay. She picked out the Geranium scent and stuck with it. She loved it. The clay did leave a little bit of residue on her fingers, but I understand that the latest formulation of the clay which is available from Mama K's Etsy shop has this remedied.

Belle loves Mama K's play clay and this Mama is happy with this gluten free play-doh alternative.

For more info: http://www.mama-ks.com/

To purchase: Visit Mama K's Shop on Etsy