Playdough has been around in various forms for years. You probably remember a version of it from your own childhood – whether it was home made or poured out from bright yellow cups. This easy to use play material is ideal for young children and it’s even more fun when you make your own together with the children.
The Benefits of Playdough
- Fine Motor Skill Development: Playdough is great for strengthening muscle tone in tiny hands – encourage your little ones to squash it, knead it, roll it out and flatten it – a great sensory activity for kids.
- Calming: Playdough can be really therapeutic for kids and it’s a great rainy day activity or ideal for when everyone needs a bit of quiet time.
- Creativity: The nature of playdough inspires creativity in kids and they should be encouraged to create whatever shapes or figures they may wish. Why not explore your utensil draw to find any objects the kids could use to create shapes, such as plastic cookie cutters or rolling pins.
- Literacy and Numeracy: You can use playdough to play all sorts of games to help with literacy and numeracy. From dividing pieces into quarters and halves to forming the first letter of your child’s name – playdough really is an amazingly versatile tool!
How to Make Playdough
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of flour (any type)
- 1/4 cup of salt
- 1/2 cup of warm water (you can add more if needed)
- 3-5 drops of food colouring
Method:
- You’ll need a big bowl to mix in, a large spoon and aprons on!
- Mix together the flour and the salt in the large bowl
- In a separate bowl, mix together the warm water and the food colouring
- Slowly pour the water into the flour and salt mixture, and stir to mix. Keep stirring until the dough starts to form then take out of the bowl and knead with hands.
- If the dough is sticky, more flour can be added. If it’s too dusty, try a little more water.
There you have it! Your children will enjoy hours of entertainment with their playdough. Why not creative a list of objects or shapes for them to create, or let their imaginations run wild with whatever figures they come up with!
