toddler art: play dough fun

March 30th, 2011 · Bambino Steps (Kimberly) ·

Recently I shared a handmade gift that I made for a young tot, including homemade play dough. Half of each batch of dough was saved for our own home use and I’m excited to share with you Baby’s first play dough experience.

I made the play dough in the morning, snapped the pics you’re about to see, and then while Baby napped, sewed up those play dough mats. But I can assure you that the mat is an intricate part of our current play.

One thing that I found most intriguing, was that he incorporated his toothpicks from his Montessori activity in his play. Fascinating!

Before I introduced the dough, I sat down with Baby and we watched Finn in Meg’s video. Looking back I’m not sure this was the wisest choice, as Baby was much more interested in following Finn’s exact movement of putting the play dough away, complete with saying “fold mat up,” but each time we play dough, he becomes more interested in actual sculpting. Another upside is that he is a master at putting all of his supplies away, by himself, when he is finished.

Patting the dough down…

Pushing the lock down.

And then pushing it back and up down again…and up.

Over the next few weeks I plan to put together a little sculpting tool suitcase as Meg depicted, another fun activity that I’ve at bookmarked from this post from Rhythm of the Home. I’ll let you know how it turns out! And of course, if you make the dough, I’d love to know how your little one enjoys it.

13 Responses to “toddler art: play dough fun”

Grammy on March 30th, 2011 at 10:54 am #

What beautiful pictures!!! I want to play too!

Carla on March 30th, 2011 at 11:02 am #

Okay, first of all that first picture is sooo beautiful. Second I have all the supplies for the dough but the sun came out and I can’t get the little one inside for one minute! Maybe we can try outside (if he can put the watering can down long enough) or once the sun goes down. I am so excited to try this montessori style, we have been struggling a little with the concept of putting things away, I’m hoping this might help.
Carla recently posted..Mini Lounger Tutorial

- Bambino Steps (Kimberly) on April 2nd, 2011 at 11:32 am #
  
  Thanks a lot Carla! That means a lot coming from such a beautiful photographer as yourself! And I’m completely jealous that you’re getting sun.
  
Dakota Gal on March 30th, 2011 at 11:13 am #

I love our homemade play-doh. For some reason, though, my daughter prefers the store-bought stuff. (Our disastrous attempt at making it was chronicled here.)
I always forget to bring out straws or toothpicks when we work with play-doh. I’ll try to remember that next time. For Christmas my daughter got a giant Play-Doh container filled with all those cookie cutters and gadgets, so she thinks she can’t do play-doh without those. I wish she would be more interested in molding it with her own hands… but she also has this aversion to getting her hands dirty. Maybe in time…??
Dakota Gal recently posted..right now

- Bambino Steps (Kimberly) on April 2nd, 2011 at 11:31 am #
  
  In time! At first my son just poked around at it, but we’ve been playing with it for…about six or seven weeks now? He’s much more brave about molding with it now.
  
Natalie on March 30th, 2011 at 12:25 pm #

I can’t wait until my daughter is old enough to play with playdough. I loved it as a kid and I kinda want an excuse to play with it again. That article in Rhythm of the Home has made me start to collect little things for playdough already.
Natalie recently posted..Meal Plan

Felicity on March 30th, 2011 at 3:08 pm #

Baby looks so much like you. BTW, i’m eagerly awaiting for t-shirt weather so I can flaunt my friendship bracelet. : )

Felicity on March 30th, 2011 at 3:10 pm #

“Awaiting for,” umm…just once i’d like to leave a typo-free comment. Just once.
Felicity recently posted..Mail- Departures

Joanne Wilson on March 31st, 2011 at 2:01 am #

Kimberly, you amaze me with all your wonderful ideas. I love it when your little model shows off your creations. Keep up the good work.

Carolyn on March 31st, 2011 at 9:04 am #

I remember my mom making playdough for us as kids and I loved it. I’m definitely going to have to make some soon.
Carolyn recently posted..Look- A Vegetable!

Debra on April 2nd, 2011 at 6:57 pm #

It looks like your little fellow had a fun time with his play dough. I need to make a batch of this for my granddaughter. I’m sure she would love it, I would too.

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