Hedgehog Play Dough

Exploring play dough can provide numerous developmental benefits for babies and toddlers under 18 months.

Even though this age group may not have the fine motor skills or understanding of the material that older children have, they can still enjoy the sensory experience, which supports various aspects of their growth. Here are some key benefits:

* Even at a young age, exposure to different colors in the play dough can stimulate visual development and help with early color recognition.

* Manipulating play dough (squeezing, rolling, pinching) encourages the development of small muscles in the hands and fingers, which is foundational for future skills like gripping and holding a pencil.

* Babies learn that pressing, squishing, or rolling play dough creates changes in shape and texture. This helps develop early problem-solving skills and an understanding of cause and effect.

* The act of manipulating soft, squishy dough can have a calming and soothing effect, which helps babies learn to self-regulate emotions and develop focus.

* Babies learn that they have some control over their environment as they make marks or change the dough, which can be empowering at this stage of development.

Overall, play dough is an excellent tool for helping babies under 18 months explore and develop a range of skills. Even though they may not be forming recognizable objects, the sensory and motor experiences provided by play dough help lay the foundation for later, more complex skills.

Great Job Tawny Owls!