And when my parents are spending time in New York, they bring Kylie Play-Doh, crayons and books.

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They also have individualized supply boxes with their own crayons, glues and Play-Doh.

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For example, play Mario with a Play-Doh keyboard, or piano with fruit!

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And in some regions, cottonseed hulls are processed into oil-drilling mud, a sticky, industrial-strength type of Play-Doh that is used to plug leaks in oil wells.

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Every Play-Doh sculpture my 2-year-old creates must be documented for posterity.

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Ms. Keyssar and I probably experienced Play-Doh a quarter-century apart.

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"Play-Doh is a really good educational toy, " Ms. O'Hara said.

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