Play Dough activities are a part of everyone’s childhood and can be found in every preschool and kindergarten. And for good reason!
Playing with play dough can strengthen muscles in toddler and preschooler’s hands, preparing them for writing skills. Activities including play dough often involve small items and careful placement. This works children’s fine motor skills. Pinching play dough into balls works the tripod pincher grip needed for beginner writers. Play dough can also be a calming experience, especially if you add essential oils or calming herbs to your homemade play dough.
So, moms and care-givers, put aside that anxiety you feel when you see the kids smooshing and mixing the colors together. Stifle those groans from thinking about the play dough droplets you’ll have to pull from the carpet. Clear your mind of the tiny finger nails that will be blue underneath for days. (Or just give them one color at a time, keep them in the kitchen, and trim their nails beforehand. That’s what I do.)
Open a new can of play dough and take a good wiff and let the kids play!
Here are two play dough activities I set out for Roo. I used party trays and placed the play dough where the dip usually goes. Then the other sections are filled with tools and accessories for the theme.
Butterfly Garden Themed Play Dough Activity Tray
What’s in the Tray:
plastic butterflies
clay mushrooms (from my fairy garden sensory bin)
plastic bugs
sequins
rhinestones
aquarium marbles
artificial flowers
kid’s safety scissors
plastic knife
butterfly cookie cutter
Play Doh preferably green or blue
Bug Themed Play Dough Activity Tray
What’s in the Tray:
plastic bugs
pony beads
rhinestones
aquarium marbles
pipe-cleaners cut to various lengths
kid’s safety scissors
plastic knife
butterfly cookie cutter
Play Doh of various colors
I had fun playing with play dough alongside Roo and I’m definitely not a preschooler or toddler anymore. I plan to use these party trays as play dough activity trays often. Hopefully your toddler or preschooler will find as much entertainment as mine did and will get some fine motor skill work into their day too!