How to get started with playdough for 2 year old?

[wishIwasonholiday10]

This is probably a dumb question but was just wondering how do 2 year olds typically play with playdough? We got given some for her birthday but I’m not sure how to get her started other than just giving her the dough and watch that she doesn’t eat it. I remember making animals and stuff with it as a child but I must have been much older than two.

Give one colour at a time.
Rolling pin, plastic cutters and spatulas.
Playdoh is fantastic for building fine motor skills and finger strength - making things isn't essential.

I'd keep the lid on the play doh for now (it'll last forever I binned DDs the other day and it was still good after a decade since she played with it) and make salt dough if she's still at the eating things phase

Mix all together and add some food colouring if you like.

• 250g plain flour
• 125g table salt
• 125ml water

I'd say maybe start with only one of two colours and a couple of basic tools (rolling pin and a cutter maybe), sit alongside her and model play but also let her do her own thing.

When mine were little I printed some pictures of scenes and laminated them so that they could decorate them with play dough. Stuff like a blank face so they could add hair and features, or under the sea so they could add fish.

Thanks both for the good ideas! Will have a go this weekend. She finally seems to be moving away from the eating things stage which is why I have waited this long.

2 year old DGD likes rolling it out with the rolling pin, cutters, printing into the playdough with paint stamps, making 'buns' in bun cases that we all have to eat. Don't bother with more than one colour at a time, ours is all a murky green, but it doesn't bother her. She still eats it occasionally.