Mixing play dough and pattern blocks makes for a fantastic sensory play experience while also preparing children to learn about geometric planes when they are older.
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Sensory Play with Play Dough and Pattern Blocks
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I came up with the idea of combining pattern blocks with play dough during a particularly grumpy morning, with fantastic success! There are so many things you can do: stamp the shapes into the play dough, use play dough to balance shapes at precarious angles, see how many shapes you can stick onto the play dough, use play dough as cement to build a pattern block structure…
Do you need some play dough for this activity? Check out my favorite recipe in this tutorial on how to easily make several colors of play dough at once!
More fun ways to play with play dough
- Play dough with marbles
- Play dough with rocks
- Play dough with googley eyes
- Play dough bakery
- Mixed media play dough play
- Instant glitter play dough
- Exploring patterns and stamping with cinnamon play dough
My kids also love using kitchen utensils with our play dough! We are also big fans of the Play-Doh brand
(have your seen our Play-Doh map of the United States?) and we own a nice range of play dough tools. Here are a few favorites – some that we own and others that we play with at friends’ homes.
What is your favorite way to play with play dough?
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MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
Wow, thanks for the link.
We made the play doh that you posted a month or so ago. This would be great fun! Thanks so much for sharing!
What a great idea! Thank you :-)
Marie
Fun!
I’m definitely going to try this for Jack. Thanks for the fun idea!
.-= Susana´s last blog ..Discover Christmas Days 1-5 =-.
Hmmm…was it you or the kids having the grumpy morning? If it was you I am glad to know I am not alone! Ideas like this are a lifesaver.
My cherubs would love to use these blocks with play dough – endless possibilities. Play dough is always more fun when you add some bits and pieces to it.
I have always liked the I Spy quilts. What a precious quilt because you made it for your children. Good on you for tackling this and making such a treasured keepsake for your children. Kudos to you for sneaking in a picture of it – that would have been very tricky!
What an absolutely gorgeous photo of Johnny for your Wordless Wedensday post. Don’t you get so excited when you manage to capture one of those photos – perfect in every way.
This is pure genius!! I love it…
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..stART Peek-a-Boo Christmas! =-.
Super great idea, as usual!
.-= Jaimie @ Two Chicks and a Hen´s last blog ..Simple Orange Pomander Balls for Advent =-.
Brilliant idea – it opens up so many new ways to use both pattern blocks and playdoh.
.-= Natalie´s last blog ..Week in Review – December 3- 2010 =-.
LOVE it!! I’m not sure who would enjoy this more… me or my two year old. :-D
.-= Valerie @ Frugal Family Fun Blog´s last blog ..Pine Forest Playscape =-.
It looks like Johnny is building a dinosaur AND he’s wearing a dinosaur shirt! :) Play dough and pattern blocks… what a great combination!
My kids would love to do that. They stick everything in playdough.
.-= Ticia´s last blog ..stART- Florida Everglades =-.
What a FABULOUS idea!!!! I’m going to have to save this one until after the holidays though! But I’m definitely bookmarking this activity!
Thanks for sharing!
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Christmas Countdown & Link Up! =-.