4 Benefits of Play Dough
Hi guys! It’s Chelsea, the Founder of The Dough Project, here to talk about the awesome things that come from playing with dough.
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But first, a little bit about me and my background in early childhood education!
I started The Dough Project as a preschool teacher in NYC. Year after year, making dough was my go-to classroom hack. It was fun and easy to make. Even better, fun and easy to play with, build with, squeeze, smush and share again and again.
After witnessing the magic that came from playing and creating in my classroom, I knew I needed to make it easier for families to recreate that experience at home.
The Dough Project creates a world of kid-powered playing with jars of fresh playdough and DIY Mixes that come packed with everything you need to make your own dough at home. We use only all-natural ingredients and color from plant-based sources.
So, what’s the deal with dough?
Used on its own, with clay tools or loose parts, dough supports imagination, conversation and growth across developmental domains. When you watch children play with dough, without any agenda of your own, you’ll be amazed.
At past dough parties, parents would be in awe watching their kids play. We’ve heard a lot of “wow, he’s so into it” and “I’ve never seen her sit this long” in our day.
4 Benefits of Play Dough
Speech and language
Playing with dough facilitates conversation as children narrate their work, problem solve and tell stories. It’s a great way to introduce new vocabulary. Most importantly, it’s a wonderful opportunity for you to listen. Play quietly, they’ll talk to you.
Cognitive skills
As children play and explore with dough, they begin to understand early quantitative concepts, like “a little” and “a lot.” They also begin to learn about geometric shapes, measurements, and balance.
Fine motor skills
All that squishing, mushing and rolling strengthens muscles and develops hand-eye coordination. These skills are critical for early writing and self-care, like getting dressed!
Self-regulation
Similar to the relieving effects that come from squeezing a stress ball, playing with dough is great for little ones to calm themselves down, release energy and express emotions. The sensory experience is grounding and can be very soothing. It’s the perfect way to unwind and reset.
And if you still need more convincing after all that, try out our all-natural, non-toxic dough made with just five ingredients!
Use code PLT10 for 10% off your first order of dough. Then, watch the littles in awe as they play and create a whole new world with dough.
About The Dough Project
The Dough Project is on a mission to get both adults and little ones to think outside the jar. Using only all-natural ingredients (things you can find in your own pantry) and color from plant-based sources (like those beets you used in your salad), The Dough Project is obsessed with creating products that are high quality and safe, so kids can explore and play freely.
The Dough Project believes playtime should be easy, enriching and well, fun. After witnessing the magic that came from playing and creating in her preschool classroom, Founder and CEO Chelsea Milkman wanted to make it easy for families to recreate that experience at home. The Dough Project creates a world of kid-powered playing with jars of fresh playdough and DIY Mixes that come packed with everything you need to make dough at home. So when you open a jar of dough or a box of the DIY Mix, you’ll instantly get inspired by the feeling of endless possibility.
About Chelsea Milkman, Founder
As an early childhood educator and Founder and CEO of The Dough Project, Chelsea Milkman is on a mission to make playtime easy, enriching and well, fun!
Inspired by the values held at the core of her preschool classroom for 10+ years, Chelsea built The Dough Project on the foundational belief that kid-powered playtime is essential for learning and cultivating creativity—both in the classroom and more importantly, at home.
Using all-natural and plant-based ingredients, The Dough Project encourages process based play through jars of fresh playdough and DIY Kits complete with all the ingredients you need to make dough at home.
