Dough WorX Activities
It can feel a long day when children are suddenly forced indoors by bad weather. These days can either make or break us as parents and it isn’t just the weather that can upset our plans. Ilness, car problems or sudden cancellations can leave us wondering – “What now?”
I always try to have a back up plan, and a few tubs of Dough Worx can come in very handy. Brightly coloured playdough can inspire creativity and use up some of that built up energy.
Here are a few of my families ideas to get you going the next time your plans take a little “detour”.
Jungle Safari
What child isn’t fascinated by the jungle? Toy lions, tigers and elephants have a way of coming alive in the hands of a small child. Why not build these animals a whole jungle to play in?
Ages: 3 up
Equipment: Green Dough Worx, plastic jungle animals and a collection of rocks, sticks, seed pods and leaves (we like to collect these when we go for a walk at the park).
- Lay out a mound of Dough Worx, animals and your nature collection.
- Allow your child the freedom to create their own jungle scene. Left to their own devices you will be amazed at what your little designer will come up with.
- To help build language skills ask your child to tell you about what they have made.
Extra ideas: You could do this activity in the lead up to or following a visit to the zoo or after reading some jungle stories. For older children, you may like to borrow some books from the library or search for pictures on the internet and have them available as children create the animals “natural habitat”.
Modifications: Use plastic sea creatures, shells and blue Dough Worx to create an ocean scene.
Anyone For Tea?
We spend such a big part of our day providing food for our children, why not let them have a turn preparing a meal for you? It’s a big hit at our place!
Ages: 3 up
Equipment: Assorted tubs of Dough Worx and a child’s tea set.
- Lay out Dough Worx and tea set.
- Allow child time to create their food and drinks and decide how they will serve them.
- Sit down and enjoy your meal. Your child may also like to make meals for some of their soft toys or dolls.
Extra ideas: This is a great opportunity to teach healthy habits. With younger children talk about every day foods and special treat foods. For older children find a copy of the food pyramid and see how many things they made from each section.
Letters and Numbers
At some stage, most children will show an interest in learning what all the letters and numbers around them mean. I have found Dough Worx can be a creative way of encouraging their interest.Ages: 3 upEquipment: Dough Worx
- Roll out lots of long thin sausages
- Shape the sausages into letters or numbers.
Extra ideas: With your help, younger children will have fun making the beginning letter of their name and the names of family members. Older children can be encouraged to make their whole name or words that are familiar to them.
FINAL NOTE:
The uses for Dough Worx are only as limited as the imagination of you and your child.
Happy creating!