Yesterday I shared my absolute favourite play doh recipe. Today, I thought I would share an incredibly simple learning activity we did with the Play Doh.
I decided to try an “Invitation to Play” with Sammy. I had done these many times in my Kindergarten classroom and was inspired to try one at home from the great posts I’ve been reading from twodaloo. It went very well!
In a nut shell, an invitation to play is simply setting up materials in a way that encourages play in an open ended manner. I love them for many reason, but at home the beauty is that you can use whatever you have on hand and easily relate it to whatever your wee one is currently interested in.
I set up the Play Doh in a way that looked like we would be cooking apple pie.
I provided Sam with:
Play Doh Apples,
Play Doh Sugar,
Sticks,
All Spice,
Pie Pan,
Rolling Pin,
Spoons and Forks.
The learning that happened was amazing to watch. Sam was counting, pretending, imagining, using different voices and becoming various characters. Better yet, he played in this way for over 30 minutes. When he tired of making pies, he cooked pizza. His pizza crust amazingly became a parking lot in the blink of an eye and he added parking spaces around the sides.
I am so glad I tried this activity with Sam. He truly enjoyed it and I felt it was a very meaningful learning activity for him. It is so lovely how wee ones can learn so perfectly from play.
We will definitely be doing more invitations to play and setting up ‘little worlds’ for Sammy to wrap himself in. Such a magical time – being 3.
Oh – and Benjamin enjoyed himself too 🙂
What is your favourite Play Doh activity?
Chelsey says
September 14, 2013 at 1:39 amI loved this simple invitation and how you shared all the benefits of providing this open-ended play to your little one! Thanks so much for sharing on this week’s Discover & Explore!
admin says
September 14, 2013 at 1:43 amThank you Chelsey!
Shaunna @ Fantastic Fun and Learning says
September 20, 2013 at 10:33 amMy girls would play with this forever! Great idea. Thanks so much for sharing in the Discover & Explore linky. I’m featuring this post today.
Sarah says
September 20, 2013 at 5:58 pmThank you Shaunna! Honored to be featured 🙂
Stephanie @ Twodaloo says
September 20, 2013 at 11:25 amHow fun is this? I’m so glad you were inspired to create your own invitation to play after reading our series. It really is a wonderful way for little ones to play and learn. Terrific job@
Sarah says
September 20, 2013 at 5:59 pmThank you for the inspiration!
Ann @ My Nearest and Dearest says
September 23, 2013 at 12:53 amSuch an inviting invitation to play! I love it!
And you’re so right – 3 is a magical age isn’t it? My little guy would likely do the parking lot thing too. 🙂
Sarah says
September 23, 2013 at 12:58 amThank you Ann – yes, I love 3 – big enough to do so much, and small enough to still enjoy the magic and wonder in everything. The parking lot game keeps growing each time we play! I think soon that will be the game itself!!
Becca says
November 4, 2013 at 10:17 pmWhat an awesome idea, Sarah! I will absolutely be doing this tomorrow with my boys! Just found you tonight via pinterest and excited to look through your archives 🙂
Sarah says
November 5, 2013 at 12:08 pmWelcome Becca! So glad you found me and like some of our play invitations 🙂