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March 31, 2020

Easy Preschool Play Dough Matching Activity

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Would your preschooler like a super fun boredom buster that doubles as a learning activity?

What about one that you can prep for them in less than a minute?

Now what if I told you it was the same activity?

Because it is!

This super simple and totally fun preschool play dough matching activity is one your kids will play again and again!

Play Dough Matching Activity

In our house the easy activities are the ones that actually get done! I used to pin all these super cool, but very complicated activities to do with my kids. You know the kind. The colorful and beautiful ideas you pin while scrolling on Pinterest and just can’t wait to do.

Then reality sets in. I don’t have the supplies. Or the talent. Or, to be totally honest, the patience!

The truth is that have fun doing all types of activities so if simple is more your jam these days then you’re going to love this super easy and totally fun play dough matching activity.

Supplies needed:

  • Play dough (either store bought or homemade)
  • Plastic play food with different textures

How to set up the play dough matching activity:

  1. Flatten and roll out a ball of play dough. Homemade or store bought both work perfectly!
  2. Press assorted play foods into the play dough. Don’t be afraid to use each item more than once.
  3. Gather all the play food you used and set in a pile next to the play dough imprints.
  4. Invite your child to match up the imprints with the food that made the impression.

Visual Discrimination Activity with Play Dough

When preschoolers are matching the play food with the correct play dough imprint they are working on visual discrimination. Visual discrimination is the ability for kids to recognize and study the similarities and differences between objects.

While they are play kids are recognizing how one piece of food can make imprints at different angles, the differences in textures, and how shape effects the type of imprint made. You can encourage their learning by having them choose another piece of food and asking what they think the print would look like before they make it.  

Easy peasy and totally awesome right?

Try it today! It will soon be a family favorite.

….and don’t worry the fun doesn’t have to stop here.

Here are some more preschool play dough ideas for you to try!

  • Printable Monster Play Dough Mats
  • Candy Play Dough Sculptures
  • Rainbow Rice Sensory Play Activity

 

About Megan Sheakoski

Megan is the creator of Coffee Cups and Crayons, a blog full of simple fun and learning. She believes that kids’ activities don’t have to be complicated to be fun and that learning is better with play.

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