Play-dough can be used to create a fun and engaging activity to work on a number of different communication skills. This can include describing, labelling, expanding vocabulary, receptive language, using action words (verbs) and play and social skills. Use the following cheat sheet to help work on these communication skills whilst you and your child are playing with play-dough!
Describing/labelling
Colour: red, blue, yellow, green etc.
Size: big, little, small
Shape: circle, round, square
Texture: smooth, sticky, squishy
Quantity: all, none, empty, full
Expanding vocabulary
Nouns: play-dough, lip, cup, scissors, knife, rolling pin, cookie cutter, table, bench
Concepts: in/out, long/short, more/less, same/different, on/off
Receptive language
Following directions: give directions using prepositions (e.g. under, around, next to, behind, in front, between, on, off)
Action words
- Make – Stick
- Give – Fold
- Push – Squeeze
- Pinch – Pull
- Squash – Roll
- Open – Close
Play and social skills
- Encourage joint attention
- Practise turn taking by taking turns to choose what to make
- Encourage eye contact
- Develop pretend play skills (e.g. pretending to use a play-dough object as something else)
Written by Sarah Pritchard – Speech Pathologist for De Silva Kids Clinic.
