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Montessori-Inspired Playdough Activities 101

September 18, 2012 By Deb Chitwood 20 Comments

Montessori-Inspired Playdough Activities 101The beginning of the school year is a great time to focus on playdough. National Play-Doh Day is celebrated either September 16. While playdough isn’t an activity that’s typically associated with Montessori, you’ll find playdough in most Montessori schools and homeschools. You can use Montessori principles to get the most out of your school- or home playdough activities.

A simple playdough activity can improve a child’s attention span, sense of order, independence, creativity, sensory refinement, and coordination. In a classroom, playdough will often provide for social interaction.

Montessori Principles Used with Playdough Activities

Food-preparation activities are an important part of the Montessori curriculum. Playdough making helps develop many of the same skills as food-preparation activities. Having your child help make your playdough is another great Montessori-inspired activity.

You’ll notice that Montessorians typically have a tray or container with playdough that will be kept on a low shelf. A child can choose the playdough activity, set it up, work with the playdough, and put away the activity when he or she is finished. Sometimes, there might be a playdough area set up at a table.

In Montessori, the child can typically choose to work alone or to invite other children to work with him or her. Playdough work often naturally becomes a social event.

There are more fabulous playdough activities online than could possibly be covered here, but following are some great ideas for basic Montessori-inspired playdough activities for home or school.

Montessori-Inspired Playdough Basics

Activity of the Week – Playdough Table (similar to what I often set up in the kitchen with various playdough activities when my children were little)

Montessori-Inspired Playdough Work (Photo from To the Lesson!)

Montessori-Inspired Playdough Work (Photo from To the Lesson!)

Keeping It Simple (photo showing playdough inside container with green lid, wooden board for workspace,  and a rectangular basket with rolling pin and other tools), Pipe Clearner Sculptures (an activity set up to encourage creativity and exploration at the beginning of the school year), and Playdough Presentation (showing a playdough setup with individual playdough containers) from To the Lesson!

Art Shelf with Playdough (from How We Montessori)

Art Shelf with Playdough (from How We Montessori)

Our Art Centre (photo – shows playdough activity along with other art materials), Playdough Play (playdough activity for a baby), and Playdough – Tools or No Tools? from How We Montessori

5 Montessori Benefits of Play-Doh for Preschoolers from Parenting in the Moment

Making Play Dough (Making Montessori Ours)

Making Play Dough (Making Montessori Ours)

Making Play Dough & Fun and Colorless Play Dough from Making Montessori Ours

 
Making Play Doh (Photo from Peaceful Parenting)

Making Play Doh (Photo from Peaceful Parenting)

Making Play Doh from Peaceful Parenting

Something from Nothing (toddler helping make playdough) from The Montessori Motherload

DIY Play Dough Recipe (includes a way young children can help) by Jessie from the Education of Ours at Mommy Moment.

Play Dough, Smell Dough (focusing on adding to the sensorial experience) from the Accidental Crafter

Homemade Playdough is Good for the Senses from Carrots Are Orange

Homemade Playdough Recipe and Notes (includes links to Montessori-inspired themed playdough activities) from Counting Coconuts

Edible Play Dough Recipe (safe for baby) from Stay at Home Educator

“20 month-old putting away play dough, Montessori home” (extremely cute and inspiring video from Sew Liberated)

Play Dough Sculpting (tutorial for a play dough sculpting kit at Mama Liberated {Sew Liberated}), Once Upon a Time There Was a Little Boy Who Loved Play-Doh (playdough-making activity at school)

Threading pony beads onto pipe cleaners stuck in playdough from Strong Start

Playdoh Color Mixing (Photo from Trillium Montessori)

Playdoh Color Mixing (Photo from Trillium Montessori)

Making Shapes with Playdoh and Toothpicks and Playdoh Color Mixing Work from Trillium Montessori

Have fun! 🙂

Deb - Signature
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Filed Under: Activities - Art, Montessori Homeschool Classroom and Materials Tagged With: Montessori, Montessori-inspired playdough activities, National Play-Doh Day, playdough activities, playdough activities 101

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cherine says

    September 18, 2012 at 8:10 am

    Thank you so much for including us in this post!! We LOVE our playdough…this is a fantastic post:))

    Reply
    • Deb says

      September 23, 2012 at 10:03 pm

      Thanks so much, Cherine! I always love seeing the awesome activities at your house! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Lauren says

    September 18, 2012 at 1:18 pm

    I love all the recipes you shared!

    Reply
    • Deb says

      September 23, 2012 at 10:12 pm

      Thanks, Lauren! I can’t wait to have grandkids to try out some of the great activities and recipes that are online now! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Jen Fischer says

    September 18, 2012 at 6:02 pm

    What a great playdough post with so many resources. I look forward to having more time to look at all of the links in detail. I used to be so intimidated by playdough, but finally learned to embrace it. http://jennifischer.blogspot.com/2012/08/lavender-playdough-how-i-learned-to.html

    Reply
    • Deb says

      September 24, 2012 at 10:56 pm

      Thanks, Jen! I’m amazed at all the playdough recipes there are online now. It’s awesome to be able to learn what works and doesn’t work for others, too! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Martianne says

    September 18, 2012 at 7:40 pm

    Playdough is a favorite of mine for home, homeschool and tutoring. I shared some ideas about it at http://traininghappyhearts.blogspot.com/2010/01/frugal-fridays-vol-1-play-dough-in.html

    On another note: THANK YOU for the referrals http://traininghappyhearts.blogspot.com/2012/09/september-thank-you.html

    Reply
  5. Marnie says

    September 20, 2012 at 11:08 am

    Thanks for the link, Deb! Love the round up!!

    Reply
    • Deb says

      September 24, 2012 at 10:57 pm

      Thanks, Marnie … and my pleasure! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Mommy Provost says

    September 21, 2012 at 7:38 am

    I love all the resources! Thanks! Great post!

    Reply
    • Deb says

      September 24, 2012 at 10:58 pm

      Thanks so much, Mommy Provost! I had fun putting it together! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Jade says

    September 21, 2012 at 6:52 pm

    Oh what great timing for this post!! I JUST bought some playdough for my daughter and wasn’t sure what to do with it other than letting her squash it haha 🙂

    Reply
    • Deb says

      September 24, 2012 at 11:01 pm

      Thanks, Jade! I’m glad to hear the timing is right. Whenever you use themes, you’ll have to check out my themed Pinterest boards. A lot of the themed playdough ideas are absolutely amazing! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Nicole says

    September 23, 2012 at 10:12 am

    Thanks for all the great playdoh ideas!

    Reply
    • Deb says

      September 24, 2012 at 11:01 pm

      Thanks so much, Nicole! Have fun! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Carokyn Wilhelm says

    September 25, 2012 at 12:36 pm

    This is such a clearly written, well explained post, and the photos are so helpful! Pinned, Carolyn

    Reply
    • Deb says

      September 26, 2012 at 10:41 pm

      Thanks so much, Carolyn! I love playdough activities, and it was a fun post to research. Thanks so much for pinning it! 🙂

      Reply

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