By LaToya C. Dawkins

As a teacher, I watch my students participate in different activities in the classroom. Although they all have their favorite activities, they all enjoy playing with play dough. It allows them to use their imaginations to create and use the versatility of the molding to support their fantasies. It seemingly never gets boring for them and most of the students never run out of ideas of things to create with the play dough. What can we understand about our preschoolers from their interaction with play dough? They are ever changing and who they become can be changed by the slightest means of alteration.

The ingredients of play dough are regular household ingredients all mixed together. Once an ingredient is put into the mix it cannot be taken out. However, we can always add ingredients to make it the consistency that we think is best. Much like our play dough, nature has used basic means such as DNA and blood line to create our preschoolers. What nature has created we cannot take away; however, we can always add positive influences to our preschoolers lives. For example, an ill temper cannot be taken away from a temperamental child. However, we can help that child by demonstrating patience and adding tenderness to their environment; thus, helping them to become more even tempered. This same method can be used in several circumstances in your preschooler’s life including, adding happiness to sadness, adding trust to fear, or excitement to boredom.

The most attractive thing about play dough is that it has endless possibilities. It can be a dull beige color or it can be brown and smell like coffee. In the land of make-believe, it can be a princess or it can be a pepperoni pizza.  When it comes to our preschoolers, the world is their stage and they can play any part. Many of our preschoolers have such booming personalities and we can already predict their interests or career choice. One of my preschoolers loves to complete puzzles with the other classmates and though she works well with the other children, she usually leads and guides others on how to complete the puzzle. She is a leader and will probably succeed at being a great leader in her adult life. With this particular student, I foster her leadership roles. I encourage her to help her classmates and demonstrate how to do different tasks. Just like with play dough, we have to envision the wonderful things our preschoolers can become and foster those possibilities.

Like many other foods made from flour, play dough needs to be preserved. If it is not sealed in a zip lock bag, it will dry out and will no longer be pliable. Preschoolers also need the proper care and attention to be functional. They yearn for our affirmation and attention. I can tell when a child’s basic need for attention is not being met. They are dry, unhappy, angry, bitter, and distant. However, when their basic cares are met, they are pleasant, gentle, charismatic, and enthused. 

Despite what we make of the play dough it will still be play dough. Though our preschoolers are easily influenced we must shy away from trying to change them or mold them into what we want them to be. Our main goal should be to provide opportunities for them to be the best version of themselves, whatever final model or design that may be.