Kids love playdough (and some adults, too)! Playdough has saved the day for many parents lost for ideas of how to keep their children busy on a Saturday afternoon. We count down our favourite playdough crafts that are perfect for little hands.
Get ready…
Before you start, create a playdough station, so your little one will have everything at the tip of his fingers. This will also help keep chaos at bay.
You will need:
- Tray or container
- Small plastic tubs with lids
- Small rolling pin
- Plastic knife
- Coloured ice-cream sticks
- Pipe cleaners
- Decorations like buttons, beads, and sequins
- Playdough
Let the fun begin…
It’s time to get rolling, squishing, stretching, and creating!
Playdough craft 1: Hammer it in
This is a great hand-eye coordination activity.
You will need
- Playdough
- Golf tees
- Toy hammer
Method
- Shape the playdough into a thick rectangle.
- Allow your little one to place the tees in the playdough and then let him hammer them in with the toy hammer.
Playdough craft 2: Mermaid tails
Did you know your little ones can “dress” their favourite dolls with play dough?
You will need
- Small doll
- Pink play dough
- Sequins
- Beads
- Sparkly gems
Method
- Shape the playdough into a mermaid tail and cover the body and legs of the doll.
- Decorate the body and tail with the decorations.
Top tip: For a sparkly dough, add glitter or small metallic confetti. For a scented dough, add a few drops of essential oil.
Playdough craft 3: Number cards
These playdough cards will get your little one excited about numbers.
You will need
- You can download them for free here.
- Scissors
- Laminating sheets
- Laminator (or take them to your local printer to have them laminated)
- Red play dough
Top tip: Let your child colour in the number with an erasable whiteboard marker. Method
- Print and cut out the cards.
- Laminate each sheet.
- Help your little one roll the number of apples and make the shape of the number.
Playdough craft 4: Hand-shaped butterflies
Rolling and pressing are great fun for tots.
You will need
- Playdough in different colours
- Pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes
- Beads
- Decorations
Method
- Press out the dough in the shape of wings.
- Roll a sausage shape to make the body and head of the butterfly.
- Cut small pieces of pipe cleaners and press them into the head-like antennae.
- Add googly eyes or beads as eyes.
- Decorate the wings and the body with the decorations.
Playdough craft 5: Sniff and play
Expect a fun combination of smells and texture with this craft using spices and playdough.
You will need
- Whole spices (cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and bay leaves)
- Rolling pin
- Clean muffin tray
- Playdough
- Cling wrap
Method
- Place the play dough and spices in the holder.
- Roll out the play dough.
- Let your child feel and smell the spices.
- Let her press them into the playdough and see what shapes the spices make.
Playdough craft 6: Picture play mats
Use this as a fun counting game. The mats can be reused.
You will need
- Picture play mats. You can download them for free here.
- Scissors
- Laminating sheets
- Laminator (or take the cards to your local printer to have them laminated)
- Playdough in various colours
Method
- Print and cut out the play mats.
- Laminate each sheet.
- Add to the pictures with the play dough, according to the instructions on each card.
Playdough craft 7: Fun animals
Let your toddler’s imagination run wild with these fun animal playdough characters.
You will need
- Playdough
- Thin ice cream sticks
- Googly eyes
- Button
- Pipe cleaner
- Scissors
Method
- Make one big ball and one smaller ball of play dough. Stick the smaller ball on the big one as the head.
- Make legs with the ice-cream sticks.
- Cut the pipe cleaners into pieces and stick them into the head.
- Curl a piece to use as a tail.
- Create a face with googly eyes and a button.
Top tip: To preserve your little one’s art, allow it to slowly air dry. Once completely dry, mix two parts white glue with one part water. Using a paintbrush, paint until completely covered and allow to dry.
Playdough craft 8: Gingerbread people cut-outs
Your little one will love representing all the members of her family with these gingerbread people cut-outs.
You will need
- Playdough
- Gingerbread people cutters
- Rolling pin
- Googly eyes
- Decorations
Method
- Roll out the dough.
- Press the cookie cutter into the dough, making sure to press down well.
- Remove the cookie cutter and excess dough.
- Decorate with the googly eyes and other decorations.