Ingredients:
- Play dough
- Paper or plastic plate
- Blindfold (e.g., a lightweight scarf)
Prep Time:
Recipe for Fun!
Sit at a table, place the plate in front of the child and the mound of play dough off to one side of the child. (Choose the side based on your child - either on his dominant side, or if he has a hand/arm he needs to strengthen, place the mound on his weak side to encourage use). Blindfold the child after he has seen the location of the play dough and the plate. Then give him step-by-step verbal instructions to build a smiley face. Give him one step at a time and wait until each step has been completed before giving the next one. Use verbal instructions such as these:
- “Take a piece of play dough and roll it into a ball the size of a quarter.”
- “Place the ball in the middle of the plate.”
- “Gently press on the ball to flatten it slightly so it stays in place.”
- “Take a piece of play dough half the size of the first ball and roll it into a ball.”
- “Make another ball the same size as the small ball.”
- “Place both small balls above the big ball on the plate.”
- “Place three fingers from your left hand next to the left ball.”
- “Move the small ball to the other side of your fingers and put it on the plate.”
- “Gently press on the ball to flatten it slightly so it stays in place.”
- “Place three fingers from your right hand next to the right ball.”
- “Move the small ball to the other side of your fingers and put it on the plate.”
- “Gently press on the ball to flatten it slightly so it stays in place.”
- “Take a large piece of play dough and roll it into a snake the length of your index finger.”
- “Place that snake under the large ball on the plate.”
- “Curve each end of the snake up.”
- “Now take your blindfold off and look at the smiley face you just made!”
Benefits:
- Receptive language skills are the ability to listen, process and comprehend spoken language. By blindfolding a child, he is focused more intently on your words and responding to your instruction.
- Following directions is a fundamental skill needed in everyday life and school. During the activity, be clear and specific with instructions and give children time to process and respond.
Modifications:
- Give the child the amount of playdough to use for each step
- Make an object that requires fewer steps, such as a circle by rolling the dough in a long strip, placing the strip on the plate, and connecting the two ends to form a circle.
- Use a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan with a lip to provide physical boundaries for the play. This can help guide both your instruction and the child’s sculpting.
- Give step-by-step instructions to build other objects such as animals.