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Roly Polies

Make some playdough.

PLAYDOUGH
(Lansky, 1981)

Mix in a medium pot: 1 cup white flour 1/4 cup salt 2 Tbsp. cream of tartar

Combine and add: 1 cup water 2 tsp. food coloring 1 Tbsp. oil

Cook over medium heat and stir (about 4 minutes). When it mostly sticks together and forms a ball, turn the mess out onto wax paper and knead for about 5 minutes. Store in an airtight container or plastic bag. It will keep several months.

NOW -- here are just a few ideas of how to play with it:

1. squeeze the playdough
2. roll the playdough into logs, balls, etc.
3. pound the playdough
4. put a piece of the playdough on some part of your child's body and have him tell you where it is, then take it off
5. make sculptures by placing one ball "on top of" another or "under" another or "next to" another
6. have your child catch balls as you roll them to her
7. have your child put the balls into a container when he catches them
8. use utensils such as rolling pins, cookie cutters, bottlecaps, plastic knives, etc., to make designs
9. make body molds -- of your face, your child's face, hands feet, nose, mouth, ear, etc.
10. pretend to have a party and make pretend food (its OK to taste the playdough, but you probably don't want to make it a meal)

Senses used: proprioceptive, kinesthetic, haptic, tactile, smell, taste, hearing, vision, echolocation

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