Play dough helps children build the muscles in their hands, grow mentally through imaginative play, lengthen their attention span, and calm themselves down. Make your own play dough together with the children and offer it at the beginning and end of the day or anytime you might need to soothe the children. This is from the website
Aims
Later today when I go and visit Kira I am going to be playing with play dough with her. I think that she will like this as she goes to nursery and they do this activity there. Kira is will not find this activity unusual as she has done it at home too
Expectations
I am expecting Kira to be able to role out the play dough and be able to cut shapes out of it using cutters. I am expecting Kira to also
Observations
When I was observing Kira I was watching her closely why she was playing with her play dough.
We began by taking out all the play dough from out of the tube. It came as a set. She told me that she had had this from ‘nanny’. This was not Kira’s first time playing with this play dough.
First of all I was showing her what we where going to do. Kira was very keen to help me do this. And said…..
After I had make a body out of the coloured play dough and placed in the arms and legs, she cold see that I had finished and said ‘me do it now’
When it was her turn to make a fairy out of the play dough she knew that she had to put the play dough in the presser to make the body shape, this is because she was watching me do this. When Kira had finished her play dough fairy she said ‘very pretty’
After Kira had finished making her fairy she them just played with the play dough, she had this roller that made butterfly patterns so she was rolling that over her play dough. She was then cutting it up and squeezing it.
According to the AQA book by heather Brennand it says: ‘This can be squeezed, squashed, battered and flattened. Handling it can be a way of soothing or of getting rid of tension.
On the website it says
Fine motor skills, Children are developing their hand muscles as they use play dough. This is called fine motor development. Fine motor activities such as play dough strengthen muscles and develop coordination that children will later need for skills such as writing. Give children plastic knives to cut the play dough and cookie cutters and rolling pins to roll out the dough and cut shapes. Offer this activity every day.
Social skills
Children can practice sharing materials. When you add dramatic play props (see below for more ideas) you can give children a chance to share their ideas and play imaginatively together.
Play dough helps young children grow physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially. There is a great deal of learning going on when children simply play with play dough
Conclusion
Imagination and creativity
Children who are beginning to play imaginatively can turn play dough into anything. Give them birthday candles and cake toppers and encourage them to shape play dough into a cake. Dramatic play is valuable for young children: It deepens their thinking and helps them get ready for success in school. Dramatic play is even more important than teaching children letters or numbers! From the website
