Squish, smash, twist, roll, repeat -- we’ve all been there before! As parents, many of us have played with Play-Doh in one stage of our life or another; whether it be with our children, or as children ourselves, we all know and are familiar with the fun, squishy, and slightly stinky dough that kids love. Between the scent, sight, and texture of it all, there’s something that makes Play-Doh uniquely what it is. While Play-Doh often comes in a plastic container with little to no instructions on how to play with it or what to make from it, this ambiguity is part of what makes the dough so fun for children (and adults) of all ages.
As adults, we tend to see Play-Doh as nothing more than a fun freeform activity that keeps our kids busy; however, what we often overlook are the diverse ways that Play-Doh aids in early childhood development.
Discover 4 different ways that Play-Doh works its magic and why our educators at the Y love incorporating it into their programs:
Helps Enhance Fine Motor Skills
Does your child love to roll, squish, smash and twist all their different Play-Doh colours together when creating their masterpiece? While the thought of never being able to separate the colours ever again might drive you crazy at first, you’ll be glad to know that there is some good that comes out of your child’s artistic decisions.
Thanks to the malleable properties of Play-Doh, your child is actually secretively strengthening their hand muscles, tendons and joints when designing their masterpiece! In turn, this encourages and promotes the development of fine motor skills for your child; these skills later assist them in completing fine motor activities such as holding a pencil, picking up small items, and controlling their scissors.
Encourages Creativity and Imagination
When it comes to what your child decides to mould next, the possibilities are endless. Whether they choose to mould an animal, a shape, or an object, your child is encouraged to use their creativity and imagination every step along the way. In fact, many children feel more comfortable expressing their creativity with Play-Doh simply because they can’t make a mistake. Unlike painting or drawing with markers, Play-Doh gives your child a “undo” option in real life. Don’t like how that purple dinosaur looks? No problem, just squish it into another shape or animal of your choice!
Has a Calming Effect
Have you ever found yourself squeezing or rolling around extra bits of Play-Doh that are laying around while your child plays next to you? If so, you may have discovered that Play-Doh offers a calm, soothing effect, much like that of a stress ball thanks to its malleable properties. When squeezing or rolling Play-Doh around, the muscles in your hands and wrists are repeatedly activated/deactivated which works to help alleviate tension and stress in the body. As a result, for young children who do not yet have the vocabulary to express their emotions, Play-Doh can help serve as an outlet of emotional expression while also ridding excess energy and stress that they may be experiencing.
Promotes Learning Through Play
As a freeform style of play, Play-Doh offers open-ended opportunities for children to learn about independent and cooperative play while developing socioemotional and academic skills to help them later in life. When your child plays with their friends at the Play-Doh table, they get the opportunity to learn about cooperation, collaboration, self-control, and how to build relationships with others. Meanwhile, from an academic standpoint, Play-Doh introduces your child to the development of new Language and Literacy skills (as they discuss with their peers what they’re creating) and Science and Math skills as well (through trial and error, comparing shapes and sizes, etc.). With Play-Doh, the possibilities are endless!
At the Y, we believe that play is the primary way in which children learn. That’s why we integrate play-based learning opportunities along with our YMCA Playing to Learn™ curriculum in all our classrooms and Child Care Centres. Striving to provide a stimulating learning environment for children of all ages, our goal is to ensure that your child continues to grow and develop in our care. Learn more about our Playing to Learn™ curriculum, as well as our Early Learning and Child Care Programs via our website.
As adults, we tend to see Play-Doh as nothing more than a fun freeform activity that keeps our kids busy; however, what we often overlook are the diverse ways that Play-Doh aids in early childhood development.
Discover 4 different ways that Play-Doh works its magic and why our educators at the Y love incorporating it into their programs:
Helps Enhance Fine Motor Skills
Does your child love to roll, squish, smash and twist all their different Play-Doh colours together when creating their masterpiece? While the thought of never being able to separate the colours ever again might drive you crazy at first, you’ll be glad to know that there is some good that comes out of your child’s artistic decisions.
Thanks to the malleable properties of Play-Doh, your child is actually secretively strengthening their hand muscles, tendons and joints when designing their masterpiece! In turn, this encourages and promotes the development of fine motor skills for your child; these skills later assist them in completing fine motor activities such as holding a pencil, picking up small items, and controlling their scissors.
Encourages Creativity and Imagination
When it comes to what your child decides to mould next, the possibilities are endless. Whether they choose to mould an animal, a shape, or an object, your child is encouraged to use their creativity and imagination every step along the way. In fact, many children feel more comfortable expressing their creativity with Play-Doh simply because they can’t make a mistake. Unlike painting or drawing with markers, Play-Doh gives your child a “undo” option in real life. Don’t like how that purple dinosaur looks? No problem, just squish it into another shape or animal of your choice!
Has a Calming Effect
Have you ever found yourself squeezing or rolling around extra bits of Play-Doh that are laying around while your child plays next to you? If so, you may have discovered that Play-Doh offers a calm, soothing effect, much like that of a stress ball thanks to its malleable properties. When squeezing or rolling Play-Doh around, the muscles in your hands and wrists are repeatedly activated/deactivated which works to help alleviate tension and stress in the body. As a result, for young children who do not yet have the vocabulary to express their emotions, Play-Doh can help serve as an outlet of emotional expression while also ridding excess energy and stress that they may be experiencing.
Promotes Learning Through Play
As a freeform style of play, Play-Doh offers open-ended opportunities for children to learn about independent and cooperative play while developing socioemotional and academic skills to help them later in life. When your child plays with their friends at the Play-Doh table, they get the opportunity to learn about cooperation, collaboration, self-control, and how to build relationships with others. Meanwhile, from an academic standpoint, Play-Doh introduces your child to the development of new Language and Literacy skills (as they discuss with their peers what they’re creating) and Science and Math skills as well (through trial and error, comparing shapes and sizes, etc.). With Play-Doh, the possibilities are endless!
At the Y, we believe that play is the primary way in which children learn. That’s why we integrate play-based learning opportunities along with our YMCA Playing to Learn™ curriculum in all our classrooms and Child Care Centres. Striving to provide a stimulating learning environment for children of all ages, our goal is to ensure that your child continues to grow and develop in our care. Learn more about our Playing to Learn™ curriculum, as well as our Early Learning and Child Care Programs via our website.
