Inside: Put together a fun playdough activity that involves birthday pretend play. Candles and other loose parts make this a fun fine motor idea for toddlers and preschoolers.
Many years ago, probably when I first started teaching, I added some candles to our playdough table. I never imagined how loved this activity would be. Playdough birthday fun! Every single time we put candles at our playdough table, even with our toddlers, it’s a huge hit! The next time you are grocery shopping, pick up some candles. Place them on the table with playdough. And watch. We have a designated spot for it during our free-choice centers time and children are free to come and go as they wish. Some advantages of playdough:
strengthens fine motor skills encourages creativity is soothing for those who might be experiencing separation anxiety calms children, especially during those high-energy days
Simply keep a batch of it in an airtight container and have it ready to go, for those moments you need some quiet time. It’s so easy to set up at the kitchen table! The children love pressing any loose parts on top of of a playdough mound, announcing it’s someone’s birthday. (In my many years of teaching, I’ve lost track of how many times a child has brought me a playdough cupcake, singing the traditional Happy Birthday Song.) One particular year birthdays were a huge hit, so I decided to turn our playdough table into a designated birthday baking center. No surprise that it was the most popular center that week! The more loose parts you provide, the more options they have. Simple, child-led fun.
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