Play Dough and Development

Play dough, originally comprised of flour, water and salt, was first used as wallpaper cleaner in the 1950s. Children started using it in the classroom and eventually play dough as we know it was created. It is a non-toxic concoction that is easy manipulated into different shapes and forms. Today, just about every little boy and girl knows about and uses play dough.

Play dough encourages children to use their hands to manipulate the material, which leads to brain development, hand-eye coordination and muscular development. It encourages children to be tactile and explore the sensation of touch. This is important to sensory growth in toddlers. Toddlers learn about shapes, textures, and discovery while playing and experimenting with play dough. They also enjoy putting things into their mouths to taste and feel. There are no health issues with play dough because it is non-toxic.

When infants explore and use play dough, they learn future life skills. An infant jump-starts her fine motor skills and ability to problem solve when she squishes and forms play dough. Incorporating additional objects for children to manipulate with play dough is also beneficial. Just about anything can be used with play dough from a garlic press to plastic scissors.

A great project is to have your child help you make some play dough to enjoy. It is easy to make, and you can add your own special ingredients to make your play dough even more fun to experiment with. Here is a great simple recipe to try:
1 cup flour
1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons cream of tarter
1 teaspoon oil
1/4 cup salt
food coloring
Mix ingredients together, except food coloring, in a large pot and then stir over medium heat until combined. Take off heat and let cool until comfortable to touch. Knead for a couple minutes and incorporate food coloring. Make sure to do this on a non-staining surface. Keep in a plastic bag when not in use.

For fun you could add:
cinnamon
1 package Kool-Aid
pumpkin pie seasoning
lavender
rosemary
These additional items are fun ways to add another sense to your play dough - the sense of smell! Your child might want to taste the play dough more than regular, but because all the ingredients are safe to eat, there is no harm in some taste testing. Because the taste will not match the smell, it encourages your toddlers desire to explore and concept of wonder.