Parents Tools & Resources February 7, 2025

The Best Play Dough Recipe and Learning Benefits for Kids

Play dough is more than just a fun activity - it supports children's fine motor skills, creativity and cognitive development. Learn how to make the best play dough recipe and explore engaging activities to enhance your child’s learning experience at home.

Jessica Kingi

The Best Play Dough Recipe and Learning Benefits for Kids

Article Written By:
Jessica Kingi
Marketing Executive

Former Early Childhood Educator and a mum to 2 beautiful and very active boys. Joining Kids Club 3 years ago, starting as one of our Senior Service Administrators, Jessica now supports all of our centres as the Marketing Executive of Kids Club Early Childhood Learning Centres.

Why Play Dough is Beneficial for Young Children

At Kids Club Early Learning Centres, we believe in the power of purposeful play to foster children’s development. One of our favourite learning materials is play dough – a versatile tool that supports multiple areas of development while being incredibly fun for children to explore.

Play dough is a staple in early childhood education, providing numerous developmental benefits such as:

Fine Motor Skills: Rolling, squishing and shaping strengthen small hand muscles, preparing children for writing.
Creativity & Imagination: Open-ended play allows children to create freely, boosting cognitive flexibility.
Sensory Exploration: The texture of play dough engages touch, promoting sensory processing.
Language Development: Discussing shapes, textures and actions expands vocabulary.
Emotional Regulation: Play dough can have a calming effect, helping children express emotions constructively.

The Best Play Dough Recipe

Making play dough at home is simple, cost effective and safe. Our passionate Educators, who create sensory rich experiences for children every day, are excited to share their favourite tried and tested play dough recipe with you.

Jaimee - Assistant Director from Kids Club Collins St

shares her favourite play dough recipe below, admitting “I believe the cream of tartar is what makes it last longer! When I make this at home, it will stay good as long as I keep it in a cool dry place in a sealed container.”

2 cups plain flour
1 cup salt
4 tablespoons of cream of tartar
2 tablespoon of vegetable oil
1 cup of boiling water with a few drops of food colouring in it

Mix all dry ingredients together with the oil. Then slowly add the boiling water whilst stirring. Then add flour or water accordingly to get the right consistency.

This above recipe involves boiling water. Please exercise caution and ensure it is kept out of reach of children.

We love when children take part in hands-on experiences, as it fosters curiosity, creativity and essential fine motor skills. You can also use the same recipe above that comes highly recommended from our Kids Club Educators with warm water. They have guaranteed it’s the perfect recipe for little ones who want to be involved from start to finish. After all,

'Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn.'

Engaging Play Dough Activities for Families

We have put together some activities to enhance your play dough fun while using common household items you may have lying around the house!

Nature Prints (Supervised Activity)

Gather leaves, flowers or shells and press them into the dough to create imprints. This introduces children to natural textures and patterns.

Play Dough Cutting and Rolling

Provide plastic child safe scissors and rolling pins for cutting and shaping. This strengthens hand muscles and coordination.

Letter and Number Moulding

Help children roll dough into letters and numbers, reinforcing early literacy and numeracy skills.

Hidden Treasure Hunt

Hide small objects (e.g., buttons, beads) in play dough and encourage children to find them. This boosts fine motor skills and problem solving abilities.

Play Dough Bakery

Offer cookie cutters, bottle caps and forks to make pretend cookies or pizzas. This encourages role play and imaginative thinking.

Supervision and Safety Tips

Always supervise children under five to prevent ingestion.
Store play dough in an airtight container to prevent drying.
Avoid small choking hazards like beads if children are prone to mouthing objects.
Opt for natural food colouring and non-toxic ingredients.

Play dough is an essential tool for fun and learning, fostering creativity, motor skills and sensory exploration. With simple ingredients and everyday household items, families can enjoy endless possibilities for hands-on learning.

Want to Learn More About Kids Club?

We invite you to explore our Kids Club Early Learning Centres and meet the amazing team! Book a personalised tour with one of our Centre Directors to see how we can meet your family’s needs.

Call us today on 1300 154 372 to schedule a visit, or find your nearest Kids Club Early Learning Centre to book a tour today.

Children Are At The Heart of Kids Club Early Learning Centres ♥

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