If you have a batch of playdough and could use some ideas for how to play with it, we’re going to dig into that today! If you don’t have any playdough, and want to know how to make playdough, click here.
I collect tools from everywhere: online shops, toy stores, play kitchen tools, my kitchen, second hand shops.
Playdough Tool Ideas
note: this list contains affiliate links
- Melissa and Doug Shape Model and Mold comes with rolling pins (see above) and cube stampers with textures (also above)
- Play Doh Fun Factory comes with cookie cutters (top left) and a spaghetti maker (much like a garlic press)
- Straws
- At under $3, This 5-piece plastic dough tool set is one of the most affordable sets I’ve seen
- Potato Masher
- This 5-piece set of slicers and dicers from Chenille Kraft
- Kare and Kind makes this huge 24-piece set for under $13
- Toothpicks (not for really young children)
- Popsicle sticks
- Dull knife
- Muffin tin
- Cookie sheet
- Plastic toy animals
The possibilities are truly endless. At 16 months, it was enough for my daughter to just squish it and move balls of dough from one bowl to another. At 20 months, she wanted to cut it, so we introduced a safe wooden “knife” that we got for free from our local cupcake shop. Lately, at almost 2 years, she likes to “cook” muffins and cookies and tacos, and I’m grateful to whoever makes play dishes, rolling pins, and cookie cutters!
What can you do with Playdough?
- Roll the dough into worms and balls
- Smoosh it into pancakes
- Stamp it
- Poke it with forks and straws
- Make play baked goods
- Make “dinner” for the family
Teach children to use scissors with Playdough
This is one of my very favorite ways to teach children how to use scissors, and it’s far easier than cutting paper!
If you want to help your child learn how to use scissors, roll out some worms and show them how to cut them with safety scissors (affiliate). Cutting dough can be incredibly rewarding to kids who are frustrated by cutting paper, which is really not the easiest thing to do!
Prepare your Playdough Area
One last thing — try to avoid playdough in a carpeted area. If it gets in a rug, it can be torture to get it out.
We work on a very forgiving table, but if your workspace is an unfinished table, you can pick up inexpensive plastic sheeting or oil cloth (affiliate), at your local hardware store.
Just Play!
My best advice is to just put it out with a bunch of tools, play, and see what happens. Also, pay attention to your child’s cues for more ideas. If they’re using the dough to create an imaginary world, you could introduce small toy animals to the play. If they’re interested in backing, add a spatula and cookie sheet. The bottom line — have fun!
More Playdough Ideas
If you want to make your own playdough, this is the best recipe.
Would you like more playdough tool ideas? This post shares 3 playdough tools that you may already have.
Add a new scent to your playdough such as pumpkin pie
If you want to make glow in the dark playdough, you’ll love this recipe.
Want to get creative? Click here and learn how to make masa playdough!
Thank you for the recipe and for the links to tools, rolling pins, etc. I never know where to find those things! Where do you buy the safety scissors? I’m looking forward to whipping up a batch for Max since he always loves playing with it at your house or at the gym daycare. Thank you!
Hi Aleksandra,
I wish I could remember where I got our scissors (maybe Palo Alto Sport Shop and Play World?), but you can easily find them online with a search for “toddler scissors.” This looks like a pretty cool model: https://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-93907097-Pre-School-Spring-Scissors/dp/B0002TMXAY
And if you don’t have any on hand, I’ll give you some cream of tartar so you don’t have to make a special purchase of it.
R