Christmas Tree Playdough

If you visit us regularly then today's invitation to play should come as no surprise.
 

With Christmas just around the corner it only makes sense that I'd combine the theme of Christmas with the girls' favourite play medium-playdough!

When she saw me making the playdough Squiggles requested a blue playdough (which I'll post about at a later date), so the invitation I'm showing you today was for Bubbles alone, although Squiggles and Bubbles did end up sharing a few of their accessories.

To invite Bubbles to play I simply placed some green playdough on a tray along with a few other Christmas elements I thought might enhance her play: tree cookie cutters, tinsel, mini baubles, jingle bells and a rolling pin.

Bubbles immediately started to dress the tree impression I had left in the playdough with some tinsel. She pushed the tinsel into the playdough and then began threading the baubles onto the tinsel. (Great fine motor practice!)

Bubbles continued to dress the tree by pushing some jingle bells carefully around the outline of the tree-she found this quite difficult and in the end simply placed them where she could.

At this point she asked if there was anymore playdough so she could make more trees. I suggested taking the playdough out of the tray and using the cookie cutters.

Many more trees were made and decorated until Bubbles decided to place the dough back into the tray. She then asked Squiggles if she could have one of her 'trees' (an olive branch) and set about making her final creation.

Once Bubbles had finished creating we wrapped the tray in clingwrap and I placed it on a shelf in the girls playspace where they've been able to access it and play with it as they please.

Christmas Tree Playdough Recipe

Ingredients:
1 cup plain flour
2tbs cream of tartar
 1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
1tbs cooking oil
2-3 drops green food dye
1-2 drops peppermint essence

How to Make:
Mix all ingredients in a saucepan.
Stir over medium heat for 3-5minutes or until the mixture congeals.
Remove from heat and dump on a lightly floured bench and cool slightly.
Once cool enough to touch knead until smooth.

For more activities like this click on the picture below-and have a look at my Chistmas activity planner for the parent with zero energy:

Please always supervise your infant/child at play.  Please stay within arms reach and never leave infants/children unattended.  You know you're infant/child best, use your own judgement-considering your infant/child's temperament, habits, behaviour and development before you play with a new play medium.