Playing with Playdough
Are you looking for a fun hands-on activity with your child that creates lasting memories and is a sensory-rich experience? Look no further! Playdough can be the perfect activity that leads to endless fun and can be a great educational tool. Children can get their hands a bit dirty while in the DIY process of creating the dough, but can then experiment, create, and discover during the play process! Not only great for one or more children, but it also acts as a wonderful gross-motor building activity. Children are challenged to manipulate the dough as they play, often challenging their imaginations to mold and create!
Get started by making your own playdough:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- Lots of Smiles
- 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Up to 1.5 cups boiling water (added in increments until the texture feels just right)
- Food coloring and/or essential oils (optional)
- A few drops of glycerin (optional; helps keep the dough from sticking to tables)
Directions:
- Mix flour, salt, cream of tartar, and vegetable oil in a large mixing bowl
- Add food coloring or oils to the boiling water, and then slowly add the water to the dry ingredients
- Stir continuously until it comes together as a sticky dough, add the (optional) glycerin
- Allow the dough to cool down, then take it out of the bowl and knead it vigorously for a few minutes until all of the stickiness is gone (this is an important part of the process, so keep at it until it’s the perfect consistency)
- If the dough is still a little sticky, add a touch more flour until it’s just right
- Last but not least, have fun!
Considerations:
-Try adding some loose parts (age-appropriate) to the play! (Examples located in following section)
-Use real materials when playing, such as a true large rolling pin rather than a small plastic one. Challenge your little one to some big fun!
-Add some essential oil or food coloring to enrich the sensory experience
Around-the-House Playdough Props
- Birthday candles
- Blocks
- Bottle caps
- Cookie cutters
- Combs
- Garlic press (be prepared to give it up forever)
- Large buttons and other objects that can be pressed into the play dough to make a design
- Feathers
- Leaves, twigs, pebbles
- Plastic knives, forks, and spoons
- Rolling pin or bottle
- Small toy people and animals
- Straws
- String or shoelaces
- Tea strainer
- Toothpicks (only for older children)
What children learn
Playdough play at home or school supports the development and learning in many areas. When children use playdough, they explore ideas and try different approaches until they find one that works. They compare and contrast objects (“Mine’s a fat pancake and yours is skinny”), actions (“No, don’t cut it! Scrape it, like this”), and experiences (“We’re not making a snake—we’re making a road”). In their experimenting, children come up with their own ideas, satisfy their curiosity, and analyze and solve problems. These are all skills that help children learn and succeed in school (NAEYC).
What will you create with your play-dough?
