Home Hot Topics Articles Directors' Choice Awards About Us / Contact Us Activities & Curriculum Activities for Outcome-Based Learning Arts & Crafts Music for Learning Recommended Reading Sharing Boards: What Do YOU Think? NEWSlink Current National News Conference Calendar Topics In Early Childhood Education Art and Creativity in Early Childhood Education Job Sharing Board State Licensing Requirements Stay Connected! We'll send you regular emails filled with articles and ideas for your classroom. Subscribe Now   ACTIVITY Scented Playdough By Julie Joy Toddlers are learning to explore without putting everything into their mouth. Homemade playdough is safe, inexpensive, and helps children develop fine muscle skills. Toddlers will use their hands to feel, their noses to smell, and their eyes to look at the playdough. Before You Start Mix together 3C flour, 1 C salt, 3T oil and I C water. Divide in half and knead in food coloring and a scented oil. You may want to double or triple the recipe depending on your group size. Let's Begin 1. Give each child a lump of dough. Encourage him to squeeze and roll the dough with his hands and fingers. 2. Show the toddlers how to make balls, snakes, or pancakes. Let them tell you what they are creating. 3. Sniff the dough. Ask the children what it smells like, but remind them not to eat it. Compare the different scents and colors. 4. Add the additional items to enhance play. 5. Store in air tight containers and this dough will keep well. Furthermore Help the children take off their shoes and make foot prints in the squishy playdough. How does it feel on their toes?   prepared playdough (recipe below) cookie cutters, small rolling pins straws, plastic knives, or other items Articles and activities listed on this website may be printed for single use. No article or activity may be duplicated or distributed in any form, in whole or in part, without permission from the publisher, Excelligence Learning Corporation. Contact Permissions Department.

© 2007 Excelligence Learning Corporation, All Rights Reserved.