Toddlers love sensory activities that allow them to incorporate multiple senses in their play. Many parents are reluctant to allow toddlers to use play dough as a sensory material for fear that their toddler will eat the dough. Homemade play dough is non-toxic and a wonderful educational experience for your toddler.
Store Bought Dough vs. Homemade Dough
Store bought play dough contains many additives and chemicals that are not meant to be ingested by your toddler. Heavy coloring contained in the dough can irritate some toddlers skin and stain some materials. Toddlers are very likely to throw the dough onto the floor and store bought dough is often difficult to get out of the carpet and can stain.
Homemade play dough can be easily made at home and gives you the control to choose the ingredients that you use. The dough can be colored and given a pleasant scent by adding household spices into the mix. Homemade salt dough easily vacuums out of carpets once it dries making clean up simple and stress free.
Create a Variety of Sensory Experiences
Toddlers love to experience the world through their sense of touch. Play Dough on it’s own creates a wonderful sensory experience for your toddler but it can be expanded by mixing add ins to your homemade dough.
Sand – Mix sand into your homemade play dough to give your dough a grainy texture. You can adjust the amount of sand that you add to your play dough to give your toddler a variety of textures.
Cloves – Whole cloves can be added to play dough to create an uneven texture and add lumps to the dough. Toddlers will have a different play experience using the uneven dough and the scent of the cloves adds another dimension to their play.
Be Creative – Nearly any material can be mixed into your homemade dough to alter the play experience for your toddler. Be aware that if you use an add in that your toddler is used to eating it may encourage them to eat the dough but one taste of the heavy salt in the dough and he is not likely to try it again.
Keep Homemade Dough Handy for Busy Days
Homemade dough easily stores for several weeks in an airtight container. This makes it a quick and easy activity for days when you need to occupy your toddler with something safe while you get something done. Strap your toddler into his high chair and give him some homemade dough to play with while you cook dinner. Toddlers love to imitate anything they see mom doing. Give your toddler some plastic silverware, a small rolling pin, and some cookie cutters and let her join in on the fun of preparing dinner. Pull your toddler’s high chair somewhere that she can watch what you are doing while she plays so you know that she is safe and happy while you work.
