Playing with playdough can be really therapeutic for children, they enjoy exploring the smell, texture, squishiness and malleability of it. When a child is given some playdough. They instinctively squeeze it, poke it, squash it, pick it up and then pat it down. All of these actions teach them that there are consequences for their actions.
Rolling the dough in their hands, against tables and helps to develop motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination; both of which are beneficial to everyday activities. Working playdough can also be very calming for kids, it gives them a way to work out their stress through their hands.
Making things with playdough helps to foster a child’s creativity and imagination, it aids in developing self-esteem, co-operative play when playing with other children; teaching them how to share and play together. Talking to your child about what they are making also aids verbal communication skills. You can also use to create alphabets and numbers to assist in reading and math skills.
In short, the messy, squishy, stuff is both fun and educational for little ones. Here is a child-friendly, home made, no cook recipe for you to make for your kids entertainment:
Ingredients
- 2 cups plain flour
- 1 cup salt
- 1 tbs oil
- 1 cup cold water
- 2 drops liquid food colouring
Method
- Combine plain flour and salt.
- Add water, food colouring and oil. Mix until ingredients are combined.
- Knead well.
- If consistency is too wet add a little plain flour.
After all, what’s more fun than playing with playdough?!
At Angel’s Paradise Early Education Childcare Centres, we seek to have a happy, positive environment which stimulates imagination through learning.