Roll & Pinch: Roll small balls between thumb and fingers to build strength.
Snakes & Ropes: Make long ropes or snakes and coil them into shapes or cinnamon buns.
Scissor Practice: Cut dough into slices, shapes, or designs using child-safe scissors.
Hide & Seek: Hide beads in dough and have your child dig them out.
Finger Obstacle Course: Create hills, jumps, or mazes in the dough for fingers to navigate.
Press & Shape: Use buttons, pegs, straws, kitchen utensils, or googly eyes to press into dough.
Playdough Food & Fun: Make pizzas, pies, muffins, or emoji faces to practice pinching, rolling, and pressing.
Letter & Shape Work: Form letters, numbers, or shapes to strengthen fine motor skills and pre-writing muscles.
STEM Building: Use popsicle sticks, craft sticks, and dough to build simple structures.
Source:
Adapted from Playdough Activities for Fine Motor Skills, NAPA Center