The trouble is, those little 2 oz. tubs from the store never cross the threshold to our apartment - I cannot bear the smell of the real stuff. And at the speed she goes through them, the cost would really add up before she even reaches kindergarten. But would I deny our little sculptor? Never.

After a little research I found a handful of recipes on the Internet. The danger with the homemade stuff is that the texture often cannot live up to the store-bought version. Fear not. All you have to do is find the right recipe. Cream of tartar is the ingredient that creates a smooth texture and not the icky graininess you (desperately) want to avoid. The clay is soft and pliable and just what you would expect. So go to the spice aisle and buy a jar (or two).

This recipe is also the one my own mother made for me and my sister in the ’70s (in shockingly massive quantities). It was perfect then and I’ve been amazed at how easy it is to make…and how much my daughter loves it. It only takes 5–10 minutes and has all the qualities of the store-bought stuff except for the smell. I can quickly whip up a new batch and let my daughter pick the color she wants.