These DIY playdough bugs are an engaging and fun way to get your kids excited about creativity and screen-free time, whilst getting a brilliant fine motor skill workout. Playdough activities appeal to a wide range of ages and it’s also a relatively mess-free option with endless possibility and imaginative play potential.
It doesn’t need to be expensive either. Playdough is easily and cheaply made at home, too. (Click here for our homemade playdough recipe.)
We focused on creating playdough bugs as these little critters are celebrated and loved by most little girls and boys. Spiders, caterpillars and butterflies are children’s favourites and incorporate few props with vibrant and engaging results. These playdough bugs can be as simple or as intricate as your little one’s crafting capabilities will allow. Rolling, pushing, shaping, building and accessorising are all excellent ways to encourage creative thought, patience, anticipation and it also builds the important hand muscles and encouraged pincer grip.
We used a few other props including coloured paper, pipe-cleaners, straws and googly eyes – some more favourites that offer up additional fine motor activities and sensory fun.
What you’ll need for the DIY Playdough Bugs:
– Playdough (a few different colours work best)
– Pipecleaners
– Straws
– Coloured paper
– Scissors
– Tools for extra creative exploration
– Googly eyes
How to create the DIY Playdough Bugs:
1- Encourage your little one/s to roll the playdough into a variety of shapes of different sizes – balls, longer rolls and anything in between.
2- These can then be placed together to create a variety of bug bodies, with the accessories added depending on the bug creation.
3- Pipecleaners and straws for antennae and pieces of paper for butterfly wings. The possibilities are endless.
4- Feel free to add extra items like beads, feathers and sequins.
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