The Sensory Benefits of Playdough —There’s More Than You May Know

As a long-time Kindergarten teacher, I’d have to say that playdough has always been one of my class's favorite group activities. Playdough days are special, often reserved for rainy, indoor days when we need an engaging activity to bring the children together for a calming, yet stimulating project. I make the dough myself in the morning and present it to the children while it is still warm, and it’s a special treat, especially on a cold Autumn or Winter day! I often add a little lavender oil and a drop or two of one or two natural food colors. Sometimes, flower petals may even make their way in, as an added surprise. The warmth, the smell, the color, and the texture are all so satisfying to the senses. It creates a calming mood and is soothing to their soul. 

There are numerous other benefits to having children work with playdough that may not be immediately apparent. For example, this activity engages the tactile senses on many levels. Through the sense of touch, the children feel the dough and gauge its softness, smoothness, crumbliness, or stickiness. The mixing of two different colors of dough teaches the subtleties of the colors and how a third new color appears when the first two are combined. There are often squeals of delight at this new discovery.

This activity supports language development, as children begin to narrate what they are doing and often describe in detail what they are creating. 

The most significant advantages of the playdough activity are that it strengthens the muscles in the fingers, wrists, hands, and arms. Along with this muscle work, fine motor skills are enhanced by the rolling, pressing shapes, pinching, squeezing, and shaping with both hands and fingers. This helps with muscle control, hand-eye coordination, as well as future tasks like shoe tying, knitting, and writing.

So, next time your child ‘plays’ with playdough, remember all the hidden benefits they are gaining while simply having fun.

Hundred Hills School Playdough Recipe

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup salt

4 teaspoons cream of tartar

2 tablespoons oil

2 cups water

Lavender scent and food coloring (optional)

(A little of each goes a long way)

Combine flour, salt, and cream of tartar in a saucepan.
Mix water and oil, and add to dry ingredients
Cook over medium heat in saucepan, stirring constantly, until the mixture separates from sides of pan and forms a ball.
Cool to touch and add scent or coloring, if desired
Store in an airtight container.

By Terri Webster
Lead Kindergarten Teacher