Teaching Time for Toddlers--Play-doh

Play-doh is a fantastic "toy".  It helps with fine motor skills, creativity, provides a new sensory experience, helps to develop small muscles in the hands that later help with writing, and can help with colors.  I must admit, I hadn't really thought about letting Catherine play with my Play-doh (yes, MINE) until recently when I began surfing the net for toddler activities.  I had thought that it was an older kid's activity, but I guess not!

Catherine was a little hesitant to even touch the Play-doh at first.  I showed her how to squish it and pinch it.  Eventually she became a little more curious and enjoyed putting it in and taking it out of the classic yellow container.  This is certainly an activity that we will be coming back to again.


The lovely folks over at Familylicious have compiled a list of thirty homemade playdough recipes that you should check out!


What are you doing with your toddler(s) this week?  Or what did you do last week?  Or even last year?  I'd love to see it!  Link up any toddler related post and check out what everyone else is up to.  (It would also be really cool if you'd put my button on your blog somewhere--it's over on the left!)




A Brief History of Play-doh

Picture Source

Play-doh (official site) was originally created in Cincinnati (my birthplace!) as a wallpaper cleaner.  Its secret non-toxic formula and no mess composition made it a perfect grade school modeling clay.  In 1956 it was sold in Washington, DC, at Woodward & Lothrop Department Store's toy section.  At that time it only came in one and a half pound jars, that often had rusty bottoms, of off-white.  By 1964 new colors had been introduced and it was in international markets.  In 1986 the iconic plastic containers replaced the cardboard and metal cans.  To date, more than 700 million pounds of Play-doh have been made.

National Play-doh Day is September 18th.

For more information check here or here.