National Play-Doh Day

National Play-Doh Day is dedicated to the children’s toy that once made a splash and became very popular. It is on September 16th.

History

Play-Doh is a modeling compound that resembles clay or plasticine. Interestingly, this product was initially conceived as a means of cleaning wallpaper. It was developed in 1933 by Cleo McVicker and his brother for Kutol Products in Ohio. This use quickly lost its relevance, as by the end of the 1940s, many people had already switched to gas and oil stoves, which no longer left a layer of soot on the wallpaper.

In 1955, Kay Zufall, the wife of McVicker’s son who owned his father’s business, suggested adapting the product for children’s use. At that time, she worked as a teacher. A slight tweak to Play-Doh’s composition turned it into a safe toy that could be used to sculpt various objects.

A wave of popularity swept over the toy after Bob Keeshan, better known under the pseudonym ‘Captain Kangaroo’, began to demonstrate it on children’s television programs. Parents began to massively buy Play-Doh for their children. Over time, several color options for the toy appeared, and later the rights to it were bought by Hasbro, which still produces it.

How to take part

There are several ways to celebrate National Play-Doh Day.

1. Try to mold anything you want out of the toy yourself.
2. Buy Play-Doh for your child and spend time teaching them modeling skills.
3. Make this toy in the kitchen. Yes, it is possible! The recipe can be easily found on the Internet. To make it, you will need water, salt, flour, starch, a little borax, as well as food coloring.

When is National Play-Doh Day in 2024?

National Play-Doh Day is observed on September 16 each year.

Observations