Why Playdough is Great for Your Child!

Playdough can seem like a nightmare sometimes. It’s messy, it gets stuck in the carpet, and kids mix the colors together until all that’s left is a brown, dried up mess. But, what if I told you that brown, dried up mess is great for your child’s development?

The most obvious benefit of Playdough play is that it stimulates children’s creativity and curiosity. They learn to create things with their own hands, which builds their confidence and increases their desire to create more in the future.

You’ll also see that many children use Playdough to imitate what they see grownups in their lives doing, such as baking and using kitchen tools. I love to give my students regular kitchen gadgets to use with their Playdough. This teaches them real life skills, and shows them that I trust them with real tools.

Real rolling pins, cupcake pans, cookie sheets, and eating utensils are great examples of kitchen tools that work well with Playdough. This week, I even tried giving my students a garlic press to make “noodles” with. Not only did they love it, but it also was a great tool to help develop grip strength in their little fingers, which will lead to improved fine motor skills such as handwriting.

Garlic presses aren’t the only Playdough tools developing those muscles, though. Rolling, cutting, and shaping Playdough all strengthen those little hands. Even squishing Playdough in your fingers requires strength!

Playdough also helps kids develop scientific inquiry and observation skills. They learn that different actions cause different results. They learn what happens when you mix two colors together. They learn how to make a beautiful mess and how to clean up after themselves.

As an adult, Playdough can seem like an unnecessary complication in your day, but I believe that the benefits vastly outweigh the frustrations. And, let’s face it, nothing can beat the smile on a child’s face when they present you with the beautiful Playdough dessert they made, just for you.