Do your kids love playing with play dough in your classroom or at home? Here are some of my best tips for setting up and organizing your playdough center in your preschool or pre-k classroom. I’ve also included my favorite play dough recipe and dough tools to increase student engagement in this popular center.
How to Organize Your Play Dough Center
There are a few ways to set up and organize your play dough area in the classroom – some are more effective than others. You could just throw some cans of store bought doh and all the dough accessories into a tub and call it a day. But this scenario usually ends up with kids being frustrated because they can’t find the doh tools they want. Don’t even get me started on the cans of dried out, crumbled dough that will have your kids bouncing from this area in minutes.
The alternative is to have an open tub or basket for each type of dough tool or accessory, and each tub is clearly labeled with pictures and words. The tubs are available on a shelf located near a table or other flat surface.
I prefer to use a countertop in the classroom if available because tasks like rolling doh are best done in a standing position. Young children don’t have much upper body strength. They usually end up standing or kneeling when they play with dough, even if chairs are provided. A standing position allows children a better angle at which they can roll and manipulate the dough.
Homemade Playdough Recipes
You can always make your own playdough to use in your classroom. This is the BEST DIY homemade playdough recipe that I’ve used in my own classroom for many years.
More recipes:
Play Dough Resources
The Best Play Dough Tools
1. Textured Rolling Pins
2. Dough Extruders
3. Plastic Dough Scissors
4. Cookie Cutters
5. Alphabet Dough Stampers
Dough Stampers
Check out how this child used Dough Stampers to make numbers in cupcakes- what fun! The silicone cupcake liners are from the dollar store.
This little one is having fun with cookie cutters in the play dough center!
Play Dough Names
Your kids will be learning and having fun while stamping their names in play dough with these Alphabet Dough Stampers!
Cutting Play Dough
Using scissors to cut play dough is excellent cutting practice! These Plastic Dough Scissors are perfect for cutting dough. Since these scissors are entirely plastic, there aren’t any metal blades to rust.
Rolling Play Dough
These sturdy, wooden rolling pins are perfect for exercising and strengthening the muscles of the hands, wrists, and shoulders needed for holding and writing with pencils and crayons!
The Teaching Trailblazers
Having a play dough station available daily in your classroom is awesome! But let’s face it, play dough can’t make you a better teacher. The best place to discuss teaching best practices and get the support you need is in the Teaching Trailblazers. We have many printable lessons and on-demand video trainings to help you become the best teacher you can be! If you want to get on the waiting list for the Teaching Trailblazers, do it soon so you don’t miss the next open enrollment period!
Links Mentioned in this Episode:
Get your FREE playdough recipe
Pingback: Moms Library #146 | True Aim
I am so blessed Venessa Levin! Your work and research are awesome!
Thank you for sharing. Your ideas will surely enrich my center.
I love the signs you have to organize your play dough center. Where can I find them?
The updated set can be found in my play dough bundle, here’s a link where you can learn more https://www.pre-kpages.com/printable-play-dough-i-can-task-cards/