Overview: Are you looking for a fun, yet beneficial activity for your toddler? Find the benefits of playdough for toddlers plus an easy playdough recipe.
Love this post? Please Share!
**This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure here**
I always love getting the playdough out for toddlers. You never know how they’re going to react to it.
Some jump right in to squish it, pull it, and try to make things with it. Others just poke at it and want nothing to do with it. And don’t forget the ones who try to eat it!
But did you know that playdough is one of the most beneficial toys you can expose them to?
Benefits of Playdough for Toddlers
The early years are all about preparing them for more complex and academic learning. We do this by focusing on motor skills, imaginative play, reading lots of books, and just simply exploring the world.
Playdough is a great source of sensory exploration. By exploring sensory materials, your toddler will strengthen their ability to process information. With playdough you can explore all the senses.
- How does the playdough feel?
- What does it sound like when you squish it? Pull it? Bang it on the table?
- What does the playdough look like?
- What does the playdough smell like?
- And if you’re using taste-safe playdough, you can explore what the playdough tastes like
The most important benefit of using playdough with toddlers is strengthening fine motor skills. Your toddler will need strong fine motor skills when learning how to write in a few years. By pulling, pinching, and squishing playdough you are strengthening those little muscles so that writing is much smoother in the coming years.
Last, playdough is great for creative play and imaginative play. This type of play is beneficial for future reading lessons. I like setting up little invitations that go along with a theme or book we read. I just set it up in an inviting way and let my toddler explore.
Our Favorite Playdough Recipe
- 2 cups of plain flour
- 2 tbsp. of cooking oil
- 1 tsp. cream of tartar
- 2 cups of water
- 1 cup of salt
- food coloring
Mix all the dry ingredients together in a pot then add the oil. To save your hands from getting messy, I like to add the food coloring into the water before adding the water to the pot. You can also add glitter, confetti, or spices at this point.
Turn the heat on medium and let it cook. Continue to stir until the playdough forms a ball. Lay the ball of playdough onto a plate to cool. Once it cools off, you can let your toddler play.
FREE WEEK OF ACTIVITIES FOR TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS
I am so excited to partner with Hands On As We Grow to provide you with fun, hands-on, worksheet free activities for toddlers and preschoolers. Get started with a free week of activities.
Note: Clicking this button will take you to Hands On As We Grow (affiliate link).
