One Toy – 10 [or more] Ways Spotlight on: Playdough

Published on

4 November 2024

Category: Resources

A toy’s versatility lies in its potential for open-ended use, shaped by how creatively it’s approached rather than any specific function. When a toy can be used in various ways, it encourages a child’s imagination and adapts to multiple developmental needs—one day helping build strength, the next fostering social skills or sensory exploration. This adaptability means that a single toy, when used thoughtfully, can support growth across many areas, offering children a rich range of experiences from just one simple item.

In this blog, we’ll explore how to maximise a toy’s potential by focusing on one versatile option with endless possibilities for use. In this blog, we’ll dive into maximizing the potential of one versatile classic: playdough. With endless possibilities for creativity and skill-building, playdough can transform from a simple material into an essential tool for play, fine motor development, and sensory exploration. With a few ideas and some creativity, this flexible material can support a range of therapeutic goals, making it a valuable addition to any play or therapy session.

What is playdough?

Playdough is a soft, pliable material that children and adults can shape, mold, and manipulate, making it ideal for creative play and skill development. Often made of simple, non-toxic ingredients, it can be used for activities that support fine motor skills, such as pinching, rolling, and sculpting, which help strengthen hand muscles and improve coordination. Playdough also provides a rich sensory experience, offering tactile feedback and the freedom for imaginative expression, making it a versatile addition to play and therapeutic settings.

Speech Pathology Goals:

Building Vocabulary: By naming shapes, colours, and textures, children learn new words and practice identifying and labelling objects in their environment.
Encouraging Descriptive Language: Describing their creations—whether it’s the color, size, or texture—supports the use of adjectives, helping children to form more detailed sentences.
Developing Sequencing Skills: Creating a model or shape often requires following a sequence of steps, which supports narrative skills and helps with storytelling by organizing thoughts in a logical order.
Strengthening Request and Command Use: When children ask for specific colors, tools, or assistance, they practice polite requests and use of directives, reinforcing social language.
Promoting Spatial Concepts: Working with playdough provides a chance to use spatial terms like “on top,” “next to,” and “under,” which builds a child’s spatial vocabulary and understanding.
Enhancing Social Skills: Cooperative play, like sharing tools or taking turns with colors, helps develop interpersonal skills and promotes social interaction.
Supporting Following Directions: Multi-step activities, such as “roll the dough, flatten it, then add details,” strengthen comprehension and following directions.
Encouraging Articulation: Naming and describing playdough models provides opportunities for practicing specific sounds and improving speech clarity, especially if the activity focuses on particular target sounds.

Occupational Therapy Specific Goals:

Strengthens Hand Muscles: By squeezing, rolling, and flattening, kids activate and strengthen the small muscles in their hands, building grip and pinch strength crucial for tasks like writing and buttoning.
Improves Fine Motor Skills: Precise finger movements like pinching, poking, and shaping playdough enhance dexterity, helping with daily activities that require control, such as zipping or tying laces.
Encourages Bilateral Coordination: Activities like rolling with both hands require children to use and coordinate both sides of the body, a foundational skill for many motor tasks.
Enhances Hand-Eye Coordination: Following lines, forming shapes, or cutting with plastic tools supports visual-motor skills by aligning hand movements with visual input, essential for activities like handwriting.
Supports Sensory Processing: Playdough provides rich tactile input that allows kids to explore various textures, aiding sensory exploration and self-regulation, especially helpful for those with sensory processing challenges.
Promotes Creativity and Imagination: With an open-ended medium like playdough, kids can form any shape or object they imagine, which encourages problem-solving and creative thinking.
Develops Tool Use: Simple tools like cookie cutters or plastic scissors allow children to practice early tool handling, improving grip and learning safety skills for future tool use.

The versatility of a toy is a powerful tool in a child’s development. When a single item can be used in multiple ways, it opens the door to creative play, adaptability, and targeted skill-building. A well-chosen toy can support growth in a range of areas, all through varied and engaging interactions. By understanding how to use toys in new and imaginative ways, both parents and therapists can enrich a child’s learning journey, making each play experience both meaningful and fun.