I make cakes for my daughter's school parties and the fondant pieces go over well. Today the school director asked me about it (fondant). I told her I would make a big batch for the kids to play with for holiday decorations but didn't think until after I left that the fondant might be too messy to work with by having to have something--cornstarch or confectioner's sugar--to roll it out. What would be best to use, homemade fondant--regular or MMf--gumpaste or pastillage? What about mold growing later on?

Also isn't there something some of you use as a rolling mat that you can get from the craft or hardware store?

Thanks for any help!

I have used it in some Special Ed classes. They rolled it out on parchment paper and used cookie cutters. Some made free-form figures and shapes. We used powdered sugar. It was messy - but lots of fun. The students took their creations home and I would imagine ate them. My grandchildren have also injoyed the "candy clay". I used MMF. It was cheaper and easy to explain what it was made with.

I would recommend MMF. My nephew and niece could prepare it themselves (the older was 8 yo). When it hardens it holds as well as gumpaste.
As for rolling mat - buy piece of clear, heavy vinyl sheet by yard in craft (or sewing supplies) store. I use it myself, it works as well as special mats, perhaps even better.

My 4 year old loves playing with the MMF. It keeps him busy while I work on cakes and he makes flowers for me using my cutters. Plus he likes eating it. haha

Vinyl sheet, that's it! Thanks for all your replies ladies!

I've also used place mats from the dollar store.

If it doesn't need to be edible, how about salt clay? The kids could make ornaments from it and then you could bake them. It's not sticky and it's safe if a kid happens to put some in their mouth (they never eat more than one tiny piece it tastes too bad) and it doesn't need special surfaces to roll it on.