10 Things to Do With Playdough for Hours of Simple Fun
10 Simple & Fun Things to Do with Playdough for Healthy, Happy Kids
If you’re looking for screen-free, sensory-rich, and developmentally beneficial activities for your children, playdough is one of the best tools you can keep on hand. Whether you homeschool, practice gentle parenting, or just want simple ways to support your child’s wellness, this squishy, colorful medium offers endless creative possibilities.
In this post, we’ll share 10 simple things to do with playdough that promote learning, motor development, emotional expression, and family connection—all in line with the natural, mindful lifestyle we love here at Simple Kids Wellness.
1. Make Nature Shapes
Bring the outdoors inside! One of my favorite things to do with playdough is have your kids shape leaves, flowers, trees, or animals using playdough. You can also press real leaves or sticks into the dough to make textured imprints.
🌿 Bonus: Take a nature walk first to collect items!
2. Build Letters and Numbers
Roll the playdough into “snakes” and shape them into letters or numbers. This is a hands-on way to reinforce early literacy and numeracy skills—especially helpful for visual and kinesthetic learners.
🔤 Try making your child’s name or counting with small playdough balls.
3. Create a Story Scene
Encourage imaginative play by building characters and settings out of playdough. Maybe there’s a dinosaur island, a farm with animals, or a fairy garden!
Then, invite your child to tell a story using the creations.
🧠 This builds language development, creativity, and confidence.
4. Use with Playdough Mats
Printable playdough mats (like our nature-themed ones!) guide your child in forming shapes and objects like suns, rainbows, and apples. They’re perfect for quiet-time play and preschool lessons.
📥 Get your own free playdough nature mats .
5. Emotional Expression Faces
Make simple face shapes and let your child form different emotions using playdough—smiles, frowns, surprised eyes, etc. This opens the door for gentle conversations about feelings.
😊 Ask: “What does a sad face look like? What helps us feel better?”
6. Playdough Bakery or Restaurant
This is another of our favorite things to do with playdough. Turn the table into a pretend bakery! Kids can “bake” muffins, cookies, pizzas, and more. You can even give them paper menus or order slips for added role-play fun.
👩🍳 This nurtures creativity, sequencing, and pretend play skills.
7. Things to Do with Playdough That Strengthen Fine Motor Skills
Have your child:
- Roll tiny balls or coils
- Use child-safe scissors to cut playdough
- Squish with fingers or stamp with cookie cutters
These activities support fine motor development and help prepare little hands for writing.
✋ Great for toddlers and preschoolers needing hand-strengthening practice!
8. Use Essential Oils or Herbs
For a wellness-focused twist, make or buy natural playdough and add calming essential oils like lavender or chamomile. Or mix in dried herbs or spices like cinnamon or rosemary.
🌸 This turns playdough time into a full sensory and grounding experience.
9. Create a Gratitude Garden
Some of the things to do with playdough can incorporate mindfulness. Make flowers, hearts, or leaves out of playdough, and have your child say something they’re thankful for with each one. Display the creations as a mini gratitude garden on the table or windowsill.
💛 This encourages emotional wellness and mindfulness.
10. Practice Counting and Sorting
Use the playdough to create tiny objects like apples, buttons, or bugs. Then sort them by color or count them into groups. This turns math into a hands-on experience that’s fun and stress-free.
🔢 Simple math meets sensory play—a win-win for early learners!
Why Playdough Is a Wellness Tool
Beyond fun, many of the things to do with playdough offer therapeutic benefits. They help regulate the nervous system through tactile input, encourages creativity without screens, and invites connection between siblings or parent and child. It’s a simple, affordable, and powerful addition to your wellness routine at home.
Final Thoughts
There are so many things to do with playdough that go beyond basic sculpting. With just a few tools and your imagination, you can use playdough to support learning, regulate emotions, encourage gratitude, and build strong hands and hearts.
💚 Whether you’re homeschooling, practicing gentle parenting, or just need a peaceful afternoon activity, playdough can be your go-to solution for healthy, happy play.
