Toddlers love playing with playdough, and will roll it out, flatten and squish, make long rolls and then cut or break them into pieces.

All these actions are a great opportunity for improving finger strength and coordination, as well as exploring different ways of doing things. 

You can extend your toddlers repertoire of actions by joining your toddler at the table and demonstrating different things you can do with the play dough. 

Video clip: Will and Pam playing with playdough

In this video clip you see Will, aged 2 years and me playing together. I make suggestions and demonstrate several actions which he sometimes, but not always copies. 

Will and I often played together, and he had lots of experience watching my demonstrations of how new toys work and what you can do with them. This video clip shows how  this experience has paid off, and you see him carefully watching my actions and trying out new actions with sustained attention and persistence. 

Return to: Hand Activities for Toddlers and Young Children