Rethink Your Playdough Activities

Ah, playdough activities, and kids.

We’ve all been there. Playdough activities can sometimes leave us cringing in the background.

Mixed colors being stuffed back into containers, texture hardening because it was left out from the night before, and little fingers forcing endless amounts of playdough into the cracks of our kitchen table. 

“Do we really want to take out the Playdough again?” 

Consider this.

What is a childhood without playdough?

In my opinion, it is the foundation of every young blooming mind. I am not here begging you to mix your colors to each their own on that. But what I am asking you to do is to break out your playdough and consider integrating some everyday items into the mix.

Perhaps playdough needs a makeover.

Here’s how to use it to boost creativity.

RELATED: Did you know that playdough can also improve pencil grip? Just one more reason to play.

So, how can we play with playdough in a more clever way?

Expand your preschooler’s creativity by incorporating Loose Parts. 

You can see more loose part activities featured for Breakfast Invitations and when counting up. 

What are loose parts?

Loose parts were originally coined by British architect Simon Nicholson to describe open-ended materials that can be used and manipulated in different ways. (Nicholson 1971)

Loose parts will challenge creativity to think outside of the box.

“The process of unintellectual learning takes place through natural interaction with real things in the child’s environment. Loose parts are real things, ordinary things, ordinary objects, that when placed intentionally in infants’ and toddlers’ environment, support their cognitive growth through exciting discoveries” (Taken from, Loose Parts 2, Inspiring Play with Infants and Toddlers) 

Loose parts do not have a specific function or purpose.

They are objects that do not have a button to push or preprogrammed intent. They also do not use batteries. If this sounds appealing to you, you should check out our favorite open-ended toys for all ages here.

Learning more about loose parts:

This setup is simple, and these three books have helped me better understand how to incorporate items in my home for my children to explore.

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These are books to encourage play at home that I have read.

RELATED: Check out how we use loose parts in our ART CART.

 

 

 

Playdough is a great sensory activity.

In fact, adding these loose parts to your next playdough activity will help change up texture and design. You will see in our sensory play 101 post how to get started if this is your first time.

Playdough can be made at home or bought! If you are looking to make your own, this Playdough recipe from A Crafty Living is excellent!

You will see many of the items we suggest also listed in our favorite craft supplies! 

• Uncooked pasta

• Corks

• Craft sticks

• Glass globs

• Stamps

• Rocks

• Plastic letters

• Lids from a variety of jars

• LEGOS – we store our LEGOS like this

• Toy eggs

• Buttons

• Wooden beads

• Color counting bears

• Random kitchen supplies

• Mini erasers

• Leaves

• Funnels to imprint

Just like this playdough exploration, toddler activities are best when they are kept simple. 

Want to elevate play dough to pottery? You will love this clay activity post to get started! 

Playdough activities can be used with all ages with supervision.

I noticed as my youngest was trying to place the uncooked pasta into the dough, he had to change the direction of the pasta and position of his hand for it to stick. 

This observation told me that he was improving his fine motor strength, along with his hand-eye coordination and problem-solving.

Incorporate more activities that help make your child think, along with feeling successful. 

Playdough is a fantastic tool for sensory play, and I will show you how to introduce the sensory play to your young child here. 

RELATED: Looking for activities for your one-year-old? You will love these ideas for one-year-olds here.

Want even more creative playdough activities?

Here are ways to change up your playdough from some of my favorite blogger friends!

Playdough Pizzas by The Imagination Tree

Dinosaur Playdough Kit – Mama Papa Bubba

Unicorn Playdough Kit – Mama Papa Bubba

How will you change up your playdough activities to inspire more creative thinking?