Quick and Easy Christmas Playdough Activity {Montessori Monday}

One of my latest tasks has been to figure out a playdough recipe for my granddaughter, Zoey. I wanted one that would be quick, required no cooking or hot water, and would be simple enough for Zoey to do most of the playdough preparation herself. That’s rather tricky because Zoey just recently turned 2 years old.

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Quick and Easy Christmas Playdough Activity (Montessori Inspired) – Video

I love seeing Zoey’s reaction at doing most of the work to make the playdough … and the fun she had with the whole activity!

Making the Quick and Easy (Super-Soft) Playdough

Ingredients:

• 1 cup hand lotion or hair conditioner (or a mixture of both)
• 2 cups cornstarch
• Wilton Icing Colors (you can use green, but I used blue and yellow to include a color-mixing activity) or Liquid Watercolors (more easily washable but not edible, although this playdough isn’t edible, either)

Instructions:

• Add hand lotion or hair condition and cornstarch
• Stir together the ingredients
• Add food coloring and knead all ingredients

 

You’ll find my adaptation of the recipe along with more ideas for a winter playdough tray in my post on “How to Prepare a Simple Winter Playdough Tray with Super-Soft Playdough”

Using the Learning Tower at the Kitchen Counter

If you have a Learning Tower, you’ll find using the Learning Tower next to the kitchen counter is a great way for your toddler or preschooler to help you with cooking, baking, or making craft recipes like playdough. The Learning Tower is also perfect when your toddler or preschooler wants to work next to you … very helpful while you’re busy working in the kitchen.

The Montessori pouring activities your toddler and preschooler works with come in very handy when it’s time to make a recipe such as playdough.

Zoey loved that the blue and yellow colors mixed together made green … and she loved the process of kneading the playdough (a way to strengthen hands for writing).

Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activity

Materials I Used to Make a Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activity

• Playdough – see above links
• Tray (I found mine at the Dollar Tree)
• Playdough Tools, such as Rolling Pins (I used tools from the Melissa & Doug Shape, Model and Mold Set)
• Red and Green Buttons (I got mine at Michaels craft store.)
• Christmas Foam Shapes (I got mine at the Dollar Tree.)
• Christmas Beads (I got mine at Michaels craft store a couple of years ago.)
• Gems would work well also.
• Christmas cookie cutter

Once Zoey had completed the playdough (with a little extra mixing from me), I was able to add the playdough to a special Christmas playdough tray. These sorts of playdough activities are very simple to put together and can use whatever materials you have on hand (unless you prefer to buy some items you might not have).

Playdough activities in general are wonderful for strengthening hand muscles for writing. Almost every part of the activity will help with that.

Zoey was so excited about the whole process! I love that she could feel responsible for the activity from start to finish!

More Christmas Resources

Hundreds of December Holiday Activities for Kids

Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!

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