Playdough
All praise the humble playdough! Without a doubt, playdough has been one of the best art mediums and activities for my toddler, and is so versatile.
As an art therapist and a mum witnessing the emotional shifts in my own child, I can confirm how powerful it is. Playdough can unlock creativity, and provide a tactile experience to explore, express yourself and relieve stress.
It’s important to note that not everyone is going to respond the same with playdough and enjoy the sensory experience. Be guided by your own child and what they need, but here is a run down of why I love playdough and how beneficial it can be in various situations, not just for kids but adults as well. So play alongside your children and see if you find it helpful too.
If you need an easy peasy playdough recipe that works wonders, you can find it in my previous blog. There can be a bit of resistance in setting up playdough, thinking it’s going to get really messy and gross, but honestly, I’ve never regretted setting it up, as the benefits have always outweighed any clean up.
My daughter has been playing with playdough since she was about 18 months, and it has evolved with her development. It’s the perfect medium to pull out when it’s been one of those challenging days with lots of meltdowns. It’s also fitting for those rainy days when it’s harder to get outside and run around. The physical nature of playdough is great for releasing energy, anger and stress, and helps with emotional regulation.
Playing with it helps you get out of your head and into the playdough! Squish, pound, mold, shape, cut, roll, imprint, build.. There’s so much to do. You don’t need all the fancy playdough tools, and can find lots in the home - cookie cutters, rolling pin, potato masher, cutlery, utensils, random objects. If you don’t have much on hand, you can get beautiful eco-friendly ones from Global Gumnuts and Nursery.
You can also make mini worlds and add sticks and other objects to the mix. You’ll be amazed at your child’s creativity, and they will often come up with the best ideas. Every time we play with playdough, new potential seems to be unlocked. I can see my daughter’s brain buzzing as her curiosity is awakened. Her latest game she invented is hiding a craft pom pom (could use any object) inside the playdough and I have to find it, and then we switch roles.
I usually set up a playdough activity on a large chopping board, and she can direct her focus and will be happy to play for 30+ minutes which is a win for any parent or carer. While playdough is great for independent play, it can also be a wonderful shared experience - providing an opportunity for connection and repair. The activity will always last longer if I am nearby, and show interest in what my daughter is doing, while giving her the freedom to experiment. When I reluctantly play with some playdough alongside my child, I notice how my own energy shifts, and all of a sudden I am totally into it. There’s something very healing about awakening our inner child. We don’t need to overthink it, just do, and the magic will follow.
✅ Open-ended play ✅ Versatility ✅ Tactile ✅ Sensory ✅ Fine motor skills ✅ Strengthening ✅ Emotional regulation ✅ Relieves stress ✅ Creativity ✅ Connection
