Toddler Sensory Play with Natural Play dough

This season we seem to be having a lot of fun with sensory play. Sensory play is perfect for toddlers and preschool age children to explore, learn, and get their fine motor skills working. As you can see here Little Miss Bell is loving it.

Toddler Sensory Play

So for today I set up a fabulous little play dough center for Miss Bell.

I used our homemade natural play doh (recipe at the bottom of the page) scented with peppermint extract, red and green pipe cleaners cut in half (it is a lot easier for little fingers to work with shorter items). I also had red and green pom poms , a holiday spreader(not sharp, of course), and some fun Candy Construction pieces for her to play with. Then I let her play and explore.

A little play dough equals lot’s of fun.

Try to slow down this holiday season and take the time to enjoy sensory play with your little one’s. It is so worth it.

If you haven’t seen our holiday treasure basket, you can check that out right here.

Play dough recipe

2 cups flour

2 cups water

1 cup fine salt

1 Tbs. cream of tartar

1 Tbs. vegetable oil

*food coloring or *Kool-aid packets is optional (I did not use it)
I added a little bit of peppermint extract for the wonderful winter smell. It turned out fabulous.

Mix everything together in a pot over medium heat. It will go through a few stages from liquidy- to sticky- then into a ball form. If you would like to add color now is the time. (Knead a few drops or a packet into the dough until it is well blended. Let it cool and store it in an air tight container.

You can check out all of our toddler activities right here and all of our sensory play here.