Ah, playdough.  How many ways can we learn with you?  Let me count the ways.

1. counting- Make and count objects.
2. patterns- Make a pattern and see if your kiddo can continue it.
3. addition and subtraction- Use playdough to illustrate story problems.  Make a nest with five eggs in it.  What happens when you add two more eggs?  How many do you have now?
4. guess the animal- Make animals and take turns guessing what it is the other person made.
5. pretend picnic/tea party- Make playdough food and good conversation during a pretend picnic.
6. textures- Play around with different materials to make imprint textures.  Use lots of good adjectives to describe them.
7. write letters– Practice writing letters in playdough for a new handwriting experience.
8. form letters- Make 3D letters to feel their shapes.
9. 2D shapes- Play “Name that shape!”  Count sides and corners of shapes.
10. 3D shapes- Make and compare 2D and 3D shapes.
11. colors- Let’s be honest.  Playdough mixing happens whether we want it to or not.  Make it a learning opportunity to make new colors.
12. hide and seek-  Bury objects in have your child be the archaeologist or paleontologist.  Use toothpicks and paintbrushes to carefully uncover the buried toy.
13. cutting- Practice cutting by rolling playdough into “snakes” and cutting them into little pieces.
14. match the imprint- Make imprints using objects and then have your child match the object to the imprint.
15. retell stories– Make characters to retell and act out books.  How about re-creating The Three Little Pigs?

What is your favorite way to learn with playdough?