Advisory Panel > Ann Wheeler

Play Dough Therapy

8 Dec 08
 
Play Dough Therapy

 

Playing with dough helps develop hand strength, muscle control, and eye-hand coordination.  It can also be a wonderful outlet for emotions and creativity.  If your child is not happy putting her hands into the dough, do not force her to but try coaxing her with a drier dough or try heating it slightly in the microwave (low heat and test it yourself before giving to the child!)  You can also experiment with different colours and with adding glitter, remembering that rougher textures are often more acceptable to sensory defensive children. 

Below is a collection of different recipes you can make at home for a fraction of the commercial price and making it yourself provides for language and mathematical experiences. Get ‘goopy’!

Basic Dough

Thinned down with water, this recipe makes paste for sticking or a fingerpaint base.

1 cup salt

2 cups flour

1 cup water

Colouring optional Keeps at least one week in a plastic bag in the fridge.

Dough for Cutters

1 pound of flour

½ cup of salt

A few drops of olive oil

Water to mix

Colouring optional Put all dry ingredients into a bowl and then add oil and colouring.  Pour the water in slowly while you pull the mixture together with a spoon.  When the mixture begins to bind, squeeze together with your hand and knead until quite smooth. 

Long-Life Dough

This dough lasts longer and is similar to the texture of shop bought dough.  It will last a long time if kept in an air-tight container. 

1 pound flour

1 cup salt

3 teaspoons cream of tartar

A few drops of olive oil

½ pint cold water

Colouring Place all dry ingredients together in a non-stick pan and mix.  Add oil and colouring.  Slowly mix in the water while stirring.  When mixed, continue to stir over a gentle heat.  The mixture will stick to the pan so you must continue to stir.  When the mixture turns into a ball, remove it from the pan and knead it until smooth.   It is ready for use when cool.

Air-Drying Dough

When exposed to the air, this dough will dry very hard and can then be painted and glazed.

1 cup cornflour

2 cups bicarbonate of soda

11/4 cups water  Cook over a medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened to a dough-like consistency.  Turn onto a board and knead lightly.  Cover with a damp cloth until cool then shape as desired.  Keep any unused portions covered with a damp cloth or aluminium foil. 

Stretchy Dough

This is a lot of fun to play with, but it does not keep.

½ bag self-rising flour

just under ¾ pint of water

Goopy Slime

This is a favourite!  Lots of fun and very messy.

2 cups water

½ cup cornstarch

food colouring

 Boil the water in a pan.  Add the cornstarch while stirring.  When well mixed, add the colour.  Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.  Play with on a plastic surface (for ease of cleaning).

© Ann Haig Wheeler, DSC 2008 All rights reserved. No part of this work can be reproduced in any form, or by any means without the express permission of the author or by Down Syndrome Centre info@downsyndromecentre.ie

 

 

Got a question for Ann Wheeler? If so, drop her an email here.

 

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