The Ultimate Guide to Kids’ Play Dough Activities and Recipes for Learning and Play
We love playdough activities! There are very few days when we don’t play with playdough, whether it’s for practice counting, developing fine motor skills, or just for fun. All of my kids love playdough, from my 11 year old to my 3 year old. We’re thinking of new playdough activities for toddlers and up all the time, including playdough stem activities and more.
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 all the benefits of playdough in preschool and beyond.
Our Favorite Printable Playdough Activities
Playdough Numbers Printables
Kindergarten playdough mats are a great way to build skills while having fun. Choose from playdough shape mats to number mats for your math centers!
Plus, the benefits of playing with your fingers, whether on shape play dough mats or just for fun, include developing fine motor skills by rolling balls, flattening ‘cookies’ and so much more!
Learn Literacy Skills with Playdough
You can cover both literacy and numeracy with playdough activities for preschool! The free alphabet playdough mats pdf helps young children learn the alphabet, letter recognition, and how to write letters.
Grab some of our favorite play dough tools for more sensory play and to 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 with a rolling pin 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 Playdough Science and STEM Activities
Whether it’s building a race car or a volcano that really erupts, here are some great ideas for STEM challenges.
Easy Homemade Play Dough Recipe for Kids
Hands-On Play Dough Ant Life Cycle Activity
Easy Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano for Kids
Playdough Pretend Play Activities
Preschool playdough mats printables are great for setting up a pretend play area. Celebrate the holidays, bake a cupcake, or fly into outer space with these low-prep activities.
Follow a playdough recipe for scented playdough with essential oils, then get those imaginations engaged!
Our favorite playdough tools:
Playdough tools are a great way to add variety to your playdough station! Use textured play dough rollers, cookie cutters, scrapers and playdough alphabet 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 playdough recipes but I have also been known to buy the big kits of Play Doh because of all the fantastic colors that are 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 playdough recipes:
These simple recipes for homemade playdough require simple ingredients. You can always add food coloring, make festive holiday playdough with sprinkles, or dry and paint the dough for homemade Christmas tree ornaments.
Green Apple Scented Play Dough Recipe- perfect for apple themed activities!
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
