Choccywoccydoughdaa

Playdough is one of my favourite sensory play activities. I always use the no cook recipe: it's quick and easy and George can make most of it independently.

All you need is 1/2 cup of salt 1 cup of flour 1 table spoon of cream of tartar 1 tablespoon of oil 1 cup of boiling water. To make the playdough chocolate flavoured, add 1/2 a cup of coco powder

Taking it step by step, I used simple language and equipment in order for George to carry out this activity with little input from myself.

First he measured out the salt. You can see the concentration on his face (mainly from the tounge sticking out)!

Next came the flour. Reaching in and scooping out the flour from the jar, pouring it into the bowl and using the utensils all stimulated George's gross motor skills

There's that concentrating face again! Measuring out the cream of tartar.

George then measured out the coco powder.

He added just the right amount to make it Choctastic.

Now the magic happens! George begins mixing it all together. Looking at the change that occurs when ingredients are combined, stimulates George's knowledge and understanding of cooking.

Once all the ingredients were combined I showed George how to knead the dough, then he had a go himself!

The kneading motion stimulated his gross motor skills. George then decided to make some chocolates for Daddy so we got some hundreds and thousands out, or sprinkles as he calls them, to create some truffles.

George tipped out the sprinkles independently. He shook the container so some sprinkled out and tipped it completely upside down so some poured out. He enjoyed observing how the way he held the pot effected the way the sprinkles came out and the sounds they made when they hit the plate.

 He then set about rolling the chocolate dough in the sprinkles. This used his fine motor skills and therefore stimulated his physical development.

"Look Mummy, they're sticking"

" Look at this one Mummy, Daddy's gonna like my chocolates isn't he?!"

Once George had rolled a truffle and covered it in sprinkles he positioned them in an old chocolate box. I know, I know, I'm such a generous mother to eat a whole box of chocolates, all so George could use it in his play!

There we have it, a whole box of special truffles especially for Daddy, made with our easy peasy choccywoccydoughdaa recipe!