It doesn’t get much easier than this. Squish some play dough onto a tray and offer your child short items to poke into it -like cotton buds cut in half, cut-up straws, or even dry spaghetti. Not only is it a fun sensory activity, but it’s also great for strengthening hand and finger muscles.
You can turn it into an invitation to create too: “Can you make a hedgehog?” or “Let’s build a spiky monster!”
This kind of open-ended play builds creativity and coordination at the same time.
Roll out or flatten a blob of play dough onto a tray.
Cut or break poking items to short lengths and set them beside the dough.
Let your child poke the items into the play dough however they like.
Invite storytelling or themed creations (e.g. animal spikes, monster fur, echidnas and porcupines).
Use descriptive language as they play if wanting to develop language skills - “That one’s really spiky!” or “You made a whole forest!”
Counting challenge: Ask them to count how many pokes or match a number.
Pattern play: Alternate colours or create spirals with their pokes.
Fine motor boost: Try threading beads onto the pokes already stuck in the dough, add tongs to pull them out, or a hammer to tap them in with.
