WHY SHOULD KIDS WITH
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PLAY
PLAY DOUGH HAS LONG BEEN A FAVOURITE ACTIVITY FOR YOUNG CHILDREN. CHILDREN CAN PLAY WITH HOMEMADE OR STORE-BOUGHT PLAY DOUGH FOR A LONG TIME, UTILISING THEIR IMAGINATIONS TO COME UP WITH ALL KINDS OF DOUGHY FUN.
PLAY DOUGH HAS NUMEROUS ESSENTIAL ADVANTAGES FOR KIDS' DEVELOPMENT IN ADDITION TO BEING ENTERTAINING.
PUSHING, PULLING, SQUASHING, SQUEEZING, ROLLING, SLICING, AND CUTTING PLAY DOUGH IN DIVERSE WAYS HELPS YOUNGSTERS IMPROVE THEIR FINE MOTOR SKILLS IN NUMEROUS WAYS.
CHILDREN STRENGTHEN THE LITTLE MUSCLES IN THEIR FINGERS AND HANDS AS THEY WORK ON ROLLING, PRODDING, AND SQUISHING DOUGH. LATER ABILITIES LIKE CUTTING AND HOLDING A PENCIL IN A PINCER GRIP USE THE SAME MUSCLES.
AS THEY USE THEIR HANDS TO MOULD PLAY DOUGH, KIDS ARE ALSO DEVELOPING THEIR HAND-EYE COORDINATION.
WHEN YOU WATCH KIDS PLAY WITH PLAY DOUGH, YOU'LL FREQUENTLY NOTICE THAT YOUNGER KIDS START TO CREATE EASY-TO-RECOGNIZE OBJECTS LIKE WORMS, PANCAKES, PIZZA, AND BALLS. YOU'LL USUALLY SEE PLAY DOUGH CREATIONS BECOMING CONSIDERABLY MORE INTRICATE AS THEY GET OLDER AND ENTER PRESCHOOL. THESE DESIGNS CAN BECOME CONSIDERABLY MORE COMPLEX WHEN PLAYED WITH BY FRIENDS, INCLUDING A VARIETY OF CHARACTERS AND STRUCTURES. THERE ARE COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES!
CHILDREN LEARN TO EMPLOY SYMBOLIC THINKING WHEN THEY PLAY WITH PLAY DOUGH BY PRETENDING THAT IT IS SOMETHING ELSE. THIS IS A CRUCIAL ABILITY FOR MENTAL FLEXIBILITY AND A MEANS BY WHICH KIDS COMMUNICATE THEIR THOUGHTS.
TO CREATE A UNIQUE SENSORY EXPERIENCE, YOU CAN ADD COLOURS, COMBINE HUES TO MAKE NEW COLOURS OR EVEN ADD SPICES LIKE CINNAMON.
ADULTS ANTICIPATE FOLLOWING A RECIPE AND GETTING A KNOWN RESULT, BUT FOR KIDS, THIS CAN BE COMPLETELY NOVEL. INTRODUCE NEW VOCABULARY TERMS LIKE "GRAINY," "SMOOTH," AND "LUMPY," AS WELL AS TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE ADDED MORE FLOUR OR LESS WATER.
SPEND SOME TIME MAKING PLAY DOUGH WITH YOUR YOUNGSTER. CONSIDER ALL THE SCIENCE AND MATHS ABILITIES YOU ARE FOSTERING. YOU MAY EXPLORE, MEASURE, MIX, MAKE PREDICTIONS, AND WITNESS THIS GLOPPY MIXTURE TURN INTO THE DOUGH AS YOU WATCH.
3. TO USE WITH THE PLAYDOUGH, PROVIDE YOUR YOUNGSTER WITH PLASTIC ANIMALS. YOUR YOUNGSTER MAY, FOR INSTANCE, MOULD PLAYDOUGH INTO BALLS TO RESEMBLE APPLES FOR A HORSE OR CREATE A LAKE FOR THE DUCKS.
2. WITH MUFFIN TRAYS AND PRETEND BAKING TOOLS, PROMOTE IMAGINATIVE PLAY. YOUR YOUNGSTER MIGHT USE THE PLAYDOUGH TO PRETEND TO BAKE A CAKE, FOR INSTANCE.
CHILDREN ARE LEARNING ABOUT CAUSE AND EFFECT WHILE MOULDING PLAY DOUGH. BY CONVERSING WITH YOUR CHILD THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, YOU CAN ENHANCE THESE EXPERIENCES. HAVE FUN, ASK OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS, AND ENCOURAGE EXPLORATION! HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR INSPIRING YOUR KID TO USE PLAYDOUGH CREATIVELY:
1. GIVE YOUR CHILD SOME OBJECTS TO USE IN THE PLAYDOUGH TO CREATE PATTERNS. YOUR TODDLER MAY, FOR INSTANCE, MAKE A DOT PATTERN WITH A FORK. A TOY CAR OR A SEASHELL COULD BE PRESSED INTO THE PLAYDOUGH BY YOUR YOUNGSTER.