Key Messages

1. Have fun playing together! 2. Babies and children need to play - it’s how they learn

about our world. 3. Talk with your baby or child while you play - it will help

them learn to talk to you. 4. Watch and listen to your baby or child - let them lead the

play. 5. Don’t worry if your baby or child only plays for a short

time, it will still have been a positive experience.

Watch out for….. 1. Always keep a careful eye on your child. 2. Create a safe place for your child to play (check regularly

for broken toys and sharp edges) 3. Watch out for small objects that can be swallowed. !

Playdough

Somer Valley Children's Centre Services

Play Ideas

If you would like more copies of this leaflet, want more information, or would like a copy of any of the another

leaflets in this series, please contact Somer Valley Children’s Services on 01225 396660

This leaflet can be made available in a range of

languages, in large print, Braille, on tape, electronic and accessible formats from

Tel: 0800 073 1214 or Textphone: 07980 998906

working together for health & well-being

What can I use? • Rolling pin

• Biscuit cutters

• Potato masher

• Buttons

• Children's cutlery

• Spaghetti and pasta shapes

• Fairy cake tins

• Drinking straws

• Lolly sticks

• Garlic press

Why play with dough?

• Playing with dough can help your child to develop their fine motor skills (small hand movements)

• It can also help their hand-eye co-ordination

• Playing with dough can help children to use simple tools and equipment

• Children can explore textures and shapes

Talking together... • Talk about the texture and the

shapes your child is making - are they big or little, sausage shaped

• Talk about the movements they are making with their hands and the patterns they are making

• If they make a person or animal, ask for suggestions of where they live, what they eat etc. to encourage their imagination

Playing together…

• Watch what your child is doing or making and copy them

• Show how you can squeeze, twist and poke the dough through your fingers

• Make sausage shapes, and then roll them into coils or use them to make stick people

• Roll a piece flat and cut with a biscuit cutter - decorate these shapes with pasta or plastic lids

Playdough