Happy Fine Motor Fridays! This week, I set up a fun Valentine themed fine motor playdough invitation to play. K is brand new to playdough, and besides a few unsuccessful attempts in the past, this was the first time that he actually engaged in playdough play! I made the playdough using the basic flour/salt/cream of tartar recipe that I have made dozens of times in my former teaching days. It stays for up to 6 months in an air tight container, which is key for me since I don't like to waste. In addition to the playdough, I included the Dollar Tree plastic hearts and plastic heart cookie cutters that we have used in multiple past activities. I sat K in his high chair to explore and just sat back to watch.
He loves these plastic hearts, so I wasn't surprised when he went right for them. He worked to empty the red cup, working his fine motor skills and scattering the hearts all over the tray.
He continued his fine motor work by taking the plastic hearts and pushing them into the playdough. I helped him cut a few heart shapes out, and he went to work decorating them.
He was very interested in pulling the hearts free. I love his little face, marveling at his strength, below!
After I modeled how to use the cookie cutters, K tried them out for himself. This was yet another great fine motor activity!
This cookie cutter was just begging to be filled full of red hearts. Why he played, we talked about hearts and the colors pink and red. Kingston giggled and said "haht, haht, haht" with his adorable New England accent.
He couldn't resist being a bit silly with the cookie cutters!
K engaged in free play with the playdough for quite awhile. It was fun watching him work with it since it was brand new medium for him! He twisted, pulled, pinched, and rolled. We practiced making snakes, snowmen, dogs, and balls. It occupied him for quite some time! I'm excited to explore the vast world of playdoughs now that he finally likes it.
Don't forget to check out the other awesome Fine Motor Fridays posts!
Snowman Sand Art from P is for Preschooler
Valentines Day Sweet Treat Fine Motor Skills Activities from Little Bins for Little Hands
How to make Foam Lacing Shapes from Powerful Mothering
Transportation Connect the Dots with Numbers from Craftulate
Foam Heart Sticker Mosaic from School Time Snippets
Painting Olympic Figures from Stir the Wonder
50 COOL DIY Toys for Fine Motor Skills from Lalymom
Cooking with Kids: Developing Fine Motor Skills in the Kitchen from Still Playing School
Looks like he had some fun with this one! (I love those heart beads, by the way!)
ReplyDeleteHe sure did, his first official playdough foray! I love those heart beads too! They are super versatile. :)
DeleteCute! Looks like he really had fun with that!
ReplyDeleteThanks Samantha!
DeleteThat looks like amazing play dough! Those cookie cutter pictures SLAY me!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Devany! It was my first successful playdough, and we loved it! I am pretty in love with those pictures too. He randomly started clowning around!
DeleteI remember when my son finally "got" play dough! An exciting stage!
ReplyDeleteTotally exciting right?! There are so many new possibilities now!
DeleteAdorable pictures!
ReplyDeleteThanks Dyan! :)
DeleteWe have those heart gems and cookie cutters, too : ) Love the idea of using them with playdough; last year we used the cookie cutters with paint!
ReplyDeleteGot to love the Dollar Tree!! We love using cookie cutters with paint too! :)
DeleteThere are so many play-do recipes out there. Would you share the one you like? In addition to that, I'm looking for one that would be safe if a little 15 month old miss put it in her mouth.
ReplyDeleteThere sure are! I just used the generic one that you get when you google homemade playdough - basically flour, salt, cream of tartar, boiling water and food coloring! This one wasn't edible, but I do know that their are a million edible playdough recipes over on Pinterest! :)
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