20+ Playdough Invitations to Play

Kids love to play with playdough, but sometimes playdough can start to feel a little stale. Try some of these playdough invitations to play to spice things up and make it more fun! Here are 20+ fun ideas to make playdough more interesting.

Things to Do with Playdough to Make it Even More Fun

I share a lot about playdough on this blog. From my famous playdough recipe without cream of tartar to different, fun ways to use playdough in the early childhood classroom, I share a lot about playdough.

But, for good reason! Playdough is good for kids! And kids love it, too.

It’s a double win.

Like all children, playdough is one of my preschoolers’ most favorite things to play with. If we are ever having a wonky day in preschool, I know a little time using playdough will solve the problem. And since my best playdough recipe is also no-cook, it’s a cinch to stir up right in the classroom!

If you’re looking for even more playdough recipes, check out my eBook: 45 Playdough Recipes. Right now, you can get 30% off!

One of my all-time favorite ways to play with playdough is to set up a playdough invitation to play for my preschoolers.

What is a Playdough Invitation to Play?

An invitation to play with playdough is any set-up where playdough is the main sensory tool. It’s is set-up with a variety of items and toys that can be used with the playdough to create an inviting learning and creative experience for preschoolers.

There are no directions for how to preschoolers are to play with the playdough. As long as children are using the materials respectfully, they can use them any way they choose. This allows for the most learning.

What Do Children Learn From a Playdough Invitation to Play?

While some may find this surprising, playdough has a wide array of developmental, learning, and sensory benefits for kids. This is why playdough is a staple in almost every early childhood classroom. It’s so versatile! Even if it just looks like play, kids are learning while using playdough.

• Fine motor skills
• Hand strengthening development
• Improves prewriting skills
• Socioemotional skills
• Language and literacy
• Art and creativity
• Science and math
• increases curiosity and knowledge

These are just a few of the benefits of playing with playdough.

How to Set Up an Invitation to Play with Playdough

Often times you will see a playdough invitation to play in platters from the dollar store, the kind with multiple sections like you would use for veggies and dip. The playdough is in the middle and then all the toys and extra items are in the outside sections. Having the invitation to play organized this way makes the play less messy and more purposeful. Having the toys and extra materials all separated and categorized helps preschoolers think through how they want to use their materials.

But you don’t have to use a platter. Simply placing the playdough on a tray with a few piles of toys and manipulatives also works well.

20+ Playdough Invitations to Play Ideas

One of my favorite ways to do playdough with my preschoolers is to first, make my go-to playdough recipe with them. It’s quick and simple and last up to six months if wrapped properly.

Then, I like to offer a playdough invitation to play!

Here are some of my all-time favorite ideas.

This ocean themed play dough invitation is a hands-on way for preschoolers to explore and learn about the ocean habitat. It only requires 4 ingredients and no cooking!

This invitation to create a playdough fairy world is an excellent way to work on a child’s sensory development. Kids can easily use this on their own for unsupervised busy time.

You can pair this bug fossils play dough invitation to play with books or lessons about bugs for an excellent teaching experience. The use of tweezers also helps in developing coordination and hand-eye coordination.

Use buttons, beads, google eyes and pipe cleaner to make adorable bunnies in this bunny play dough invitation to play. This is a perfect activity for Spring, Easter, or Animal theme lessons!

This bird nest play dough invitation to play would be great to pair with bird lessons and activities, or to stand alone as fun play time. You can use twigs from your back yard, noodles from the pantry, and then any fun bird toys you can find.

This space galaxy play dough invitation to play is a must for any kids who love space. It can easily be modified using any toys you already have or by purchasing some of the space-specific items listed in the link.

This worm play dough invitation to play is perfect for any kid who likes slippy slimy bugs! All you need is play dough, rocks, fake worms (gummies can work too!) and some toothpicks.

Use this playdough counting garden invitation to play to teach math while having fun! It’s also a fun way to practice number recognition and creating sets.

This playdough math invitation to play is very open-ended and it keeps preschoolers busily learning many different math skills. This is also a great way for you to assess your child’s math skills in a natural, non-assessment kind of setting.

Let your kids’ imaginations run wild with this flower garden play dough invitation to play. With some seeds, flowers, and fake gardening tools, this activity is a great way to teach about flowers, growth, and springtime.

This butterfly garden play dough invitation is a great way to teach about butterflies and ecosystems. Kids can make all sorts of gardens with different colors and materials.

This seashells and play dough invitation to play is an excellent way to introduce ocean learning to your preschoolers. This post includes a link to an excellent play dough recipe that’s cheap and easy to make.

Make silly playdough monsters with this monster play dough invitation to play. This post includes a link to a free printable for monster eyes, but you can use simple googly eyes or anything else you have on hand.

This cute and simple butterfly play dough tray is a great way for kids to stay busy on their own. Simply put together whatever materials you want for them and let them get creative.

This veggie garden play dough invitation to play is a fun way to incorporate math into your food theme and a non-imposing way to teach children about vegetables! Research shows that the more exposure children have to a food, the more likely they are to try it; so why not take that level of exposure to a new level with this fun activity?

How fun is this play dough cupcakes invitation to play? All you need is play dough, cupcake liners (this one calls for silicone, but regular might work as well), candles, and any fun decor items you want to use.

If you have kids who love army men and already have army toys and accessories, this play dough army men invitation to play will hold their attention for hours. Watch their little minds get creative as they build forts, battlefields, and more!

If you have kids who love dinosaurs, this dinosaur play dough invitation to play is for you! In this post you’ll also find a link to a free printable dinosaur play dough counting mat to add a learning element the experience.

This playdough fairy garden invitation to play is perfect if you have some toy fairies, buttons, and beads lying around! The glitter in the play dough adds the perfect hint of fairy magic.

This spring tree play dough invitation to play is an excellent way to teach seasons, fauna, and more! You can buy tree-themed items at a craft store or simply collect the items from your back yard.

Try this fall themed playdough invitation to play. Fall has all the best materials for playdough activities for preschoolers.

If you have some aquarium accessories at home like rocks, gravel, plants, or gems, this duck pond play dough invitation might be perfect for you! This invitation is sure to inspire a lot of pretend play and storytelling.

This pumpkin patch invitation to play comes with a free counting printable. My preschoolers loved this one!

Take math to the next level with this simple playdough invitation to play. Children will naturally learn number identification skills as well as reinforce their counting skills, all in a natural play-based setting of a playdough invitation to play.

If you’re looking for even more playdough recipes, check out my eBook: 45 Playdough Recipes. Right now, you can get 30% off!