Children love to squish, poke, pound, roll and create with play-dough. Manipulating play-dough increases hand muscle strength which in turn improves dexterity required for skilled drawing and writing. Playing with play-dough is calming because it is tactile, engaging the senses and improving focus. I always try to allow the children time to experience the play-dough before adding tools. Eventually sticks, buttons, dowel (for rolling out the dough) and cookie cutters can be added to the play. Play-dough can become cookies, flowers, worms, bowls, etc. There is no limit to the child’s imagination and play-dough is an excellent medium for creative play. Best of all you can make play-dough at home with many basic ingredients. Store it in an air tight container for up to 4 weeks!

Since I have already confessed that I do not follow recipes (see my post on Play) I have enlisted my friend and co-worker Beth from Second Street StrongStart to lead you through making play-dough at home. If you have seen me make play-dough at Windsor then you know that there is a little bit more of this, and a little bit less of that happening when I make play- dough with the children. Teacher Beth’s demonstration is bang-on. Thank you Beth! Check out Beth’s Blog for more playful ideas.

Click the link bellow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=tgB-T1y7zec&feature=emb_logo