Play Doughs and Wheat Allergies

Did You Know Play Doughs Have Wheat?

It's easy to overlook non-food items when purging allergens from your home. One of the more ubiquitous is children's play dough. Virtually every commercial brand contains wheat. Fortunately, several alternatives exist.

• One quick and easy alternative for at-home play is to add a little water (and some food coloring, if you like) to cornstarch. Cornstarch is a far different (and messier!) play experience than play dough, but many kids enjoy it.

• If you are looking for a more true-to-life substitute to make at home, or to suggest to a preschool or elementary school teacher, try this recipe, which is based on widely available rice flour.