Playdough: it’s simple stuff. You can rustle it up in your kitchen with just 10 minutes and a few common store-cupboard essentials – or buy it from any toy shop.

Now you’ve got your playdough, what next?

Playdough is well-known as a great promotor of fine motor skills – the kind we use all the time for gripping and manipulating objects, like toys, cutlery or pencils. Little hands will love the sensation of the squidgy texture. Older children can enjoy imaginative pretend play as they create whatever they like, and add small toys and other objects.

Here are a few ideas to direct your play at home.

Nature Play

This great tip from teacher and blogger Rachel makes use of all those dust-gathering collections of sticks, stones, feathers and shells – or gives you an excuse to collect a new one! See what imprints you can make.

Tunnels and machines

Don’t throw away those cardboard tubes! Use them to build your own mouldable marble run, and try out different construction techniques.

Starry Starry Night

Explore space, night and day, darkness and light with this magical sparkly playdough.

Have fun!