We’re back to share another set of spring play ideas along with our friends from Fun-A-Day!, Nothing if Not Intentional , Buggy and Buddy, and Twodaloo.
Earlier this week I shared about the flower sensory play that was inspired by Lovey’s birthday flowers. Well since then we’ve had a lot of fresh flowers around the house, and after a few days of admiring we’ve been putting them to good use. Today for the Spring Play Days series, I’m sharing how we created a flower garden play dough invitation. It’s perfect for a flower theme or any time during spring.
Materials
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To make our play dough we used the no cook play dough recipe from The Homemade Play Dough Recipe Book. We added black icing colors to make it look like “soil.” You could also make green play dough using green icing colors if you prefer the look of “grass.”
We placed the finished play dough in the wooden storage box from our Melissa & Doug Shape, Model and Mold Set. Yes, I repurpose everything as needed. 😉
To create the invitation to play we set the play dough out with:
- Sunflower seeds (You could use a variety of seeds, but I chose to use one set that was large enough for the kids to pull out when they were done “gardening.”
- Fresh flowers trimmed so the stems were about 2-3 inches long (Be sure to use flowers with strong stems so the kids can poke them into the play dough. Our flowers were from the store, but you could also use flowers from your garden if you have them.)
- Small toy watering can
- Small gardening tools
The girls were so excited to see all the flowers in the morning invitation to play.
The first thing both of them did was smell all of the flowers.
Then Lovey began to make her garden. She started by digging small holes with the tools and placing a seed in each hold. Then she gently added flowers to the garden.
And she remembered to water them just like we’ve been watering our new plants outside.
She reminded me that last year the birds ate some of our favorite plants, so she thought she’d help by adding seeds for the birds…in hopes that they would leave the flowers alone.
Tinker also created her own flower garden. This was a very calming play dough invitation that they both enjoyed, and it also gave us the opportunity to talk about the life cycle of plants.
Get a full week of playful flower theme ideas!
Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 playful learning activities related to the theme, and we’ve provided different versions for home preschool families and classroom teachers so all activities are geared directly toward your needs.
Get Your Copy
Home Preschool Flower Theme Lesson Plans
Preschool Classroom Flower Theme Lesson Plans
Visit the other sites participating in the Spring Play Days series to find more fun spring activities for kids
This post has been shared at some of these fantastic link parties.
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Kimberly
Where do you get the trays you use for play dough invitations?
Shaunna Evans
We buy our trays from the seasonal tableware section at Walmart, but similar ones are also available at Dollar Tree and some craft stores.
Kirstylee
I’m always looking for more playdough ideas. I think my favorite thing about this is the color of the playdough. I’ll definitely have to try using icing colors for coloring playdough! 🙂
Debbie @ http://kidsbibledebjackson.blogspot.com/
This looks like so much fun! I will have to try this!
Michelle @ Delightful Learning
How wonderful to play with fresh flowers! Makes me long for spring. 🙂
Renae
What a fun and fabulous idea! I love it! You always come up with such great play dough activities!
Allison Taylor
Hey. I loved your post. My daughter also loves playing in the garden. She is very curious to smell all the flowers and to taste everything that is eatable. I’m happy I have a green space in my property, as it helps me raise a strong, healthy and smart girl.
Shaunna Evans
Thank you, Allison! My girls could spend all day among the flowers, so I know what you mean. It’s great that you have such a nice space.
jeannine: waddleeahchaa
So sweet! Spring is being such a tease this year, we may just have to start with a play dough garden!
Shaunna Evans
That’s a good way to describe it, Jeannine! Maybe a play dough garden will encourage spring to hurry along.
Rachael @ Nothing if Not Intentional
Lovely!! My three-year-old will love this, because she’s been going nuts over pretend play ideas lately. Thank you for the fun ideas!
Clarissa Hooper
Love this! Pinning 🙂
JDaniel4's Mom
What fun! It would be such fun to play with over and over again.
Rachel @I Heart Crafty Things
Oh this is just lovely Shauna! I love it!!