Play dough kits and preschoolers are like hot chocolate and marshmallows from my experience. They just work so well together! Here are three simple and affordable mini play dough kits which I made for a preschool fundraiser.
I have so much fun when I create play dough kits. I love making themed dough, whether it be with color, scent or even texture. I also will admit to perversely enjoying scouring the aisles of my local Dollar Tree to be inspired by seasonal loose parts. These mini kits were very affordable to make, and I love that each one has so many open-ended play possibilities.
Make a Gingerbread Man
I wish you could reach through your screen and feel this play dough. It is so incredibly silky smooth, and it smells like Christmas through and through!
What you need:
- Christmas tin (from Dollar Tree)
- cookie cutter (from Walmart)
- Gingerbread play dough (each batch makes three 'portions', 2 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 cup salt, 2 tablespoons cream of tartar, heaped tablespoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 tablespoon ground ginger, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons glycerin, 1 1/2 cups boiling water. Add the water last, mix with spoon and then turn onto floured surface and knead. Leave to cool before storing in Ziploc bag.
- selection of loose parts - googly eyes, pipe cleaners, buttons, snowflake, bows, bells.
Using the cookie cutter to make a gingerbread man shape is great for fine motor skills and sensory exploration for preschoolers. I always love watching young kids use the loose parts with such creativity when they decorate their gingerbread man with features.
Hot Chocolate Shop in a Cup
My toddler absolutely loves anything play food related. I had the fun idea to team up some yummy hot chocolate play dough with mini cups, stirrers and a bag full of pretend marshmallows, sprinkles and straws.
What you need:
- Christmas Starbucks cup (Venti size) with lid (lucky for me I'm a regular and the lovely baristas were all too happy to donate some cups)
- Hot Chocolate play dough (each batch makes three 'portions', 2 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 cup salt, 2 tablespoons cream of tartar, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons glycerin, 2 tablespoons Hershey's cocoa powder mixed in with 1 1/2 cups boiling water. Add the hot chocolate mix last, mix with spoon and then turn onto floured surface and knead. Leave to cool before storing in Ziploc bag)
- mini red cups (from Dollar Tree)
- coffee stirrers (also kindly donated from Starbucks)
- selection of loose parts - red, green and white pom poms of various sizes, metallic beads as sprinkles, brown buttons as chocolate flakes, and paper straws cut small.
The thing I love most about this kit is that it lends itself so well to role play. My little one carefully took orders for hot chocolate, being sure to add the correct toppings. She chatted away the whole time, even demanding payment for each cup she made!
Decorate a Christmas Tree
This green mint play dough adds such a festive twist to tree decorating!
What you need:
- Christmas tin (from Dollar Tree)
- tree cookie cutter (from Walmart)
- Green Mint play dough (each batch makes three 'portions', 2 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 cup salt, 2 tablespoons cream of tartar, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons glycerin, 10 drops of green food coloring mixed in with a few drops of mint extract and 1 1/2 cups boiling water. Add the water mixture last and stir with spoon and then turn onto floured surface and knead. Leave to cool before storing in Ziploc bag)
- selection of loose parts - pretend presents, bells, pipe cleaners, beads, gems, stars and buttons.
You can't help but feel festive using all these fun loose parts to decorate the tree. My toddler loved the bells, using the pipe cleaners as tinsel and adding the gems as sparkly lights on her tree.
Play dough kits have so many benefits for preschoolers. They develop fine motor skills, build sensory confidence, encourage creative conversations, and best of all help to foster a love of hands on learning.
How long is the dough good for?
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