The Ultimate Guide to Kids’ Play Dough Activities and Recipes for Learning and Play

We have a love for play dough activities here. There are very few days when we don’t get out the play dough to use for school or just for fun. All of my kids love play dough, from my 11 year old to my 3 year old. We’re thinking of new play dough activities to do all the time, including play dough for learning.

Since my kids, big and small, absolutely love play dough so much for playing, it is a no brainer to add in learning to that too. It makes it easy for me, as their mom & teacher, to incorporate activities that will assist in teaching them all different types of ideas. We have centered play dough activities around math, literacy, fine motor practice, science, sensory and more. The kids see this as playing and I know it is helping them learn.

Our favorite Printable Play Dough Activities

Play Dough Math Printables

These math activities are a great way to build skills while having fun. Choose some of the following learning activities for your math centers!

Plus, kids can work on their fine motor skills by rolling balls, flattening ‘cookies’ and so much more!

Learn Literacy Skills with Play Dough

Grab some of our favorite play dough tools for more fun ways to play and differentiate your learning activities. Use the alphabet dough stamps and cookie cutters to build words in your literacy centers.

Or use the number cookie cutters to create math problems or work on place value.

Play-Doh Numbers, Letters, N’ FunLakeshore Lowercase Alphabet Dough StampersLakeshore Uppercase Alphabet & Number Dough StampersKiddy Dough 42-Piece Play Dough Tool Kit & Clay Pack w/Letters and Numbers

Cloud Dough Letter Smash | Winter Color Pre-K Pack

Inspire Your Scientist with Play Dough Science and STEM Activities

Whether it’s building a race car or a volcano that really erupts here are some great ideas for your science and STEM loving kids!

Play Dough Pretend Play Activities

Set up a pretend play invitation with these fun printables and inspiring play dough tray ideas. Celebrate the holidays, bake a cupcake, or fly into outer space with these low-prep activities.

Playing with play dough is a great way for kids to use their imaginations!

Our favorite play dough tools:

Play dough tools are a great way to add variety to your play dough station! Use textured play dough rollers, cookie cutters, scrapers and other tools to incorporate fine motor practice into math, literacy and science.

The possibilities are endless!

ALEX Toys Artist Studio Wooden Dough Tools Set 12 PieceCaryko Smart Dough Tools Kit with Models and Molds, Set of 24, AnimalsMelissa & Doug Cut, Sculpt, and Roll Clay Play Set With 8 Tools and 4 Colors of Modeling Dough

We enjoy trying out new play dough recipes but I have also been known to buy the big kits of Play Doh because of all the fantastic colors that come included. We also have purchased play dough tools but have made our own as well. Play dough (or Play Doh) is a fantastic activity with so many options. It’s safe to say it is my favorite too.

Here are some of our favorite homemade play dough recipes:

These simple recipes for how to cook homemade play dough will make it easy to make your own hands-on play dough activities for your kids every day.

Cocoa Play Dough Recipe

How to make Edible Play Dough Recipe using Gelatin and Honey

Green Apple Scented Play Dough Recipe- perfect for apple themed activities!

Pumpkin Pie Play Dough Recipe

Anna Play Dough for Frozen Fans

Here are some more great recipes, including Kool-aid and Peanut Butter Play Dough

Make your own long-lasting playdough.

Or grab a big pack of play dough to keep on hand for when inspiration strikes.

Play-Doh Plus Color Set (8 Pack)Play-Doh 24-Pack of Colors Play-Doh Sparkle Compound Collection