It's Clay Time: Classic 6 Benefits of Playing with Play-Doh

Highlights:

Playing with clay is safe and good for kids
Clay modeling is a unique and fun way to shape kid’s overall development
Play-Doh can help children learn and improve various skills such as motor development, creativity, imagination, concentration and sensory development

Playing with clay can help kids learn things in a fun-way method. Simple activities using Play-Doh can improve your child’s physical, mental, emotional and social development, say experts.//

When it comes to kid’s toys, who doesn’t know Play-Doh? Play-Doh is loved by toddlers and children alike, and more often than not, even adults can't resist themselves from engaging in this fun activity!

Tech vs Traditional Toys: Which are Best for Your Children?
Traditional toys are still best for your child than tech toys. Kids playing with traditional toys are often active, creative, and get adequate hands-on experience on problem-solving and fine motor skills.

‘Is Play-Doh safe for kids? Playing with clay could be a safe and fun way to mold your child’s creativity and imagination.’
Read More..

Tweet it Now

Importance of Clay Play

With umpteen learning and sensory benefits, Play-Doh aids imagination and growth, allowing children to experiment with colors, shapes, and textures. While Play-Doh’s safe and non-toxic ingredients make it a preferred choice amongst parents, this activity has more to offer than meets the eye! Here are some fun facts you probably didn't know about Play-Doh shared by Dr. Wilona Annunciation, MD, Consultant Psychiatrist and Founder of CATALYSTS:

Top 5 Bad Summer Habits Your Child Should Break Today
Summer vacation is coming to an end, are your kids ready to go back to school? But, getting addicted to unhealthy habits during holidays can be more problematic when school begins. So, parents need to help your kids to break these five bad summer habits before school starts.

Clay Play Enhances Motor Development

Molding, rolling, squishing, flattening, cutting and chopping are some of the many ways in which children engage with Play-Doh. These activities can help strengthen their muscles, improve dexterity, and allow them to develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

Such activities prove to be extremely beneficial during their early learning stages and preschool years, as it allows them to develop their finger muscle grip and strength before they even learn to write.

Can Spending Time Online Boost Children�s Well-Being?
Children spending more time on a screen with a supportive family and school environment tend to have a positive influence on their quality of life.

Clay Art Improves Creativity and Imagination

Play-Doh encourages and inspires your children to kindle their imagination. Since Play-Doh comes in no shape or form, children can fully immerse themselves in the activity, while exploring the infinite possibilities of creating whatever they want- be it objects they come across in day to day life, or something completely unique. This practice of molding something from a mental image to shape can boost their imagination and allow them to enjoy the process of creating something of their own. With time, their creations only tend to become more detailed and creative!

Hobbies that Help You Deal with Stress
Stress is a part of everyone's routine life, but too much stress can take a toll on your body and mind. Choosing a hobby may help you relax and improve your mental health.

Clay Time Boosts Curiosity and Knowledge

Mixing two different colors of dough and discovering a new color, or forming different shapes with Play-Doh, stimulates the curiosity of children and encourages them to question things, thereby aiding overall cognitive development and knowledge. While experimenting with Play-Doh, children learn by observing, thinking, executing new ideas, and solving problems, important for their critical reasoning later. So, the next time your child asks for Play-Doh, not only encourage them, but also participate in the play with them to help them learn the most from it.

Clay Modeling Improves Concentration

One of the most important skills that Play-Doh allows children to develop is a good attention span. Toddlers and children are usually restless, and may often want to play with a number of toys at once or run around the house. With the current challenges with screen time, attention spans are only growing shorter. But this activity entails them to sit in one place for long periods of time, gradually increasing their concentration span. The more invested they are in their work and creation, the longer they will push themselves to remain focused.

In addition, children also develop a sense of perseverance that helps them concentrate until their creation looks just about perfect.

Clay Play Aids in Therapeutic Engagement

Molding the dough into different shapes, squishing it, and feeling the texture, can be an extremely positive and rewarding experience for children. Energetic, restless and anxious children can learn how to relax, and release their energy in a contained matter while immersing themselves in this fun activity.

Similarly, if a child is angry or aggressive, Play-Doh can act as an excellent support, helping them calm down and share their experiences through play. Play-Doh is optimal for soothing a child and transitioning them from noisy play to quiet time and relaxation.

Clay Activity Promotes Sensory Development

Play-Doh offers an amazing opportunity for children to develop their senses! Along with visual stimulation, Play-Doh helps children experience different textures and scents. Since Play-Doh is all about hands-on exploration, children learn to experiment with textures and consistencies, while using cookie cutters, scissors, and other toys.

One simple activity of playing with Play-Doh can stimulate various senses and offer development of fine and gross motor skills, language development, aid communication skills and social interaction, and enable problem solving in a way that is both fun and safe for children of all ages!

Source-IANS