Play dough is definitely one oh those things that every kid enjoys at some point in their life. As a parent, I get so nervous breaking it out since we have carpet all throughout the apartment. But it has so many good benefits! So I break it out anytime asked.

This is one of those activities that seem so simple and easy to look over as a great educational tool, even for early ages. All you have to do is open up the container and put it in front of the child and they’ll be entertained for hours! But did you know that its also doing the following:

• Helping build fine motor skills
  • Those hands and finger are having to move around to mold the clay. I could especially see this with Alivia just trying to learn how to roll the dough into circles or flatten it out.
• Hand-eye coordination
  • We didn’t just pick up play dough, we got a set that came with “cookie” cutters, a rolling pin, and scissors. All of these tools require you to focus on manipulating the materials to fit your ideas.
• Encourages creativity and imagination
  • What can you make with play dough? Well, just about anything. Balls, food, buildings, animals, the list goes on and on. You can use molds or just free hand. I think this is especially important for young children as a lot of times we push them to learn things a certain way (how to write, how to read, how to count, etc.) but this, well, they can do it how ever hey please.
  • Bonus: Since there is no right or wrong way to play with the dough, it helps to build their self esteem!
• Educational
  • Play dough comes in all colors. Some even come in different scents. And as you’re making things you can add in learning numbers, animals, shapes, sizes, and so much more. If you make the dough from scratch, they can learn about measurements and science; how different ingredients react and change when added together. We found a Balance Scale made out of wood at Target for $3 and we put different amount of dough on to each scale, learning about weight.
• Non-screen playtime
  • It’s 2022. Technology is so ingrained in everything we do. And I for one am a big lover of it. I love all of the conveniences that it brings to my life. There is a lot of good that comes with it, but there is also a lot of bad. Kids need to be bored at times, truthfully we all do. It allows for our brains to rest and come up with new ideas. It allows for us to be mindful. And playing with play dough helps a kid to slow down, focus, and even express themselves.
• Social
  • With it being just Alivia and I a majority of the time, I really try to focus of our social skills to ensure they aren’t lacking. When we’re playing together, I give us only enough tools that we have to share them and take turns. Instilling phrases such as please, may I, it’s your turn, can I have a turn, give me x minute(s)… And Alivia gets so many compliments when we are in group settings, because she uses those skills with others.
• Mental Health
  • Squeezing the dough. Thinking. Breathing. Controlling the shape of the dough. These are things that kids are doing while playing with play dough.
    • When the squeeze the dough, it’s the same benefits as if you were to squeeze a stress ball.
    • They’re able to think. Think about the task at hand. Maybe escape some of their stresses of things they can not control, but focus on the task of something that they can’t or maybe they do want to think on something else, and this allows them to keep their hands busy.
    • Breathing. They’re able to slow down. Alivia loves to run around. She is such a busy body. But she sat down while playing. Allowing her body to relax, heart beat and breath relaxing too.
    • Controlling the shape. Young children are know to have big emotions. And it’s pretty known that it’s because they’re learning about the world and are easy to resort to tantrums due to feeling no control. Which is completely understandable. However, this isn’t behavior to encourage. Playing with play dough gives them an outlet to get out frustration. And it also gives them someing they can feel in control of.

What is your favorite thing to make with play dough?