Squishing, squashing, shaping, cutting, poking, rolling and flattening play dough helps develop and strengthen muscles and tendons in little hands. Just the basic act of playing with play dough builds those hands muscles.

And those muscles will be useful when it comes time to hold a pencil, use scissors, sip up a zipper or close a button. The use of play dough helps a child gain control over their hand and arm movements while it improves co-ordination.

When a child plays with play dough, the pincer grip (the squeezing of pointer finger and thumb to grasp an object) improves. An improved pincer grip also enhances a child’s pre-writing skills. 

The consistency of play dough also plays a part in the benefits of play dough as it will require more or less strength to manipulate the dough. Adding additional objects like cookie cutters, toys or a rolling pin – pulling back the rolling pin or pushing the cutter into the dough all provide deep pressure input and development of a child’s joints.

The use of a variety of shapes, cutters and rolling pins while playing with play dough also improves a child’s hand-eye-coordination. These tools develop a child’s hand-eye coordination by forcing them to manipulate the materials to fit their ideas. Hand-eye coordination and general concentration help children develop the strength, dexterity, and control needed to manipulate everyday items.

Much like a squishy stress ball, squeezing play dough is great for stress relief and can help calm down a child. Little children can struggle to express their emotions and using play dough while talking and singing can really help that process. Playing with play dough can help ease tension, release excess energy, improve focus, help express emotions and feel extremely therapeutic.

Play dough provides ample amount of open-ended opportunities for children to experience both independent and cooperative play. In both styles of play, children are exploring abilities, life experiences, and emotions and making the most out of the benefits of play dough. When a child works with other children or adults while playing with play dough, the sharing, discussing and collaboration is great practice for social skills with cooperation, collaboration, self-control and friendship. There is discussion about colours, tools, materials and even talk about what is being created. When a child plays with play dough alongside siblings, parents or therapist they interact, talk, discuss problems and find solutions as well as create great works of art. 

There is no right or wrong way to use play dough and that helps children develop self esteem and confidence. Play dough can also help eliminate time spent on technology and screens.  Incorporating play dough into a day encourages time spent disconnected from gadgets. Play dough helps a child slow down and focus on playing while using a number of senses and skills in the process. It helps build a child’s imagination. 

When a child mixes different colours of dough together they can discover a new colour. When a child learns to mould play dough in different shapes, it encourages curiosity providing the opportunity to ask questions while helping increase knowledge and overall development. It is beneficial to encourage play with play dough – learn to participate in the play to assist a child in absorbing the most they can from play dough time.

There are so many different ways children learn comprehension, listening, and communication skills through playing with play dough.  Just simply playing with play dough exposes children to a vast array of math, language and scientific concepts. It’s not always easy to get children interested in learning, especially about core subjects like reading and math. Play dough is an excellent tool for teaching children about counting, shapes, descriptions, and more.

In more focused play, play dough can be used as a way to practise letter and number work. With the help of p;ay dough mats, children can form letters, words, make numbers, form 2D and 3D shapes, compare lengths/thicknesses/weights, count out rolled balls to match numeral cards, match and sort by colour and much more!

As children discuss what they are creating with their sensory experiences they are also expanding their vocabulary. As you ask a child questions they are learning to listen.