Sensory play supports language development, cognitive growth, fine and gross motor skills, problem-solving skills, and social interaction. This type of play aids in developing and enhancing memory. It is great for calming an anxious or frustrated child. Make these (cheap) squishy sensory bags to place on the light table and reap the benefits of all these. This…
Recipes
Autumn Harvest Play Dough
There’s a little nip in the air in the mornings, and that means Autumn is just around the corner! At Play To Learn, we have our favorite play dough recipe is that it is very easy to substitute ingredients (like we did in this Apple Cinnamon dough) to make it into something new. Children love…
Soft Gingerbread Play Dough
The best thing about having the perfect play dough recipe is that it is very easy to substitute ingredients (like we did in this Apple Cinnamon dough) to make it into something new. In this case, we just added a few spices to make one that is perfect Christmas – super soft Gingerbread Play Dough….
Apple Cinnamon Play Dough
One of our favorite thematic units is the Senses. It’s perfect for all of the sights, sounds, and smells of fall and it’s also a great way to start off the school year. We plan center activities that incorporate multiple senses, that are inviting and of course fun! This Apple Cinnamon Play Dough is a…
Best Play Dough Recipe
Like most preschool teachers, I have tried a hundred different play dough recipes! Store-bought play dough is expensive, especially for the number of children who play with it, and I don’t love the smell or texture. So, even in my early days as an undergraduate education student I always experimented with homemade play dough. I…
Stretchy Oobleck
Our preschoolers love great sensory experiences! Last week we made slime, and today we tried a variation on the traditional Oobleck recipe. This “Stretchy Oobleck” holds together better than water and cornstarch, and stretches a bit like slime. It smells heavenly, and cleans up easily with water. During centers, the children took turns passing it…
Sensory Slime
Slime is magical, wonderful substance. We made Christmas slime in December that turned into brown mud slime! So in January we decided to try again and make blue slime. The basic slime recipe calls for equal parts liquid starch, white glue and water. We used 1 cup of each and added a few drops of blue…
Christmas Slime
Have you ever made slime? It is so easy, so intriguing, and absolutely SO MUCH FUN! We love slime as an alternative to play dough and oobleck. The colors mix well so it also gives us a chance to explore color theory. There are 3 simple ingredients: white glue, water and liquid starch. Add them…
Magic Play Dough
The beginning of the year is such an exciting time for preschoolers! One of my very favorite first day activities is making “Magic” play dough! First make a batch of colored play dough. Be sure to add enough food coloring or liquid water colors to make the dough dark. Make little balls of the colored…