This toy theme play dough mat may be just the incentive kids need to build hand strength! Kids can improve hand strength in fun ways when play dough is added to the mix. We’ve been sharing a variety of free play dough mats based on several different themes. These are free printable playdough mats that kids can use to increase hand strength, specially strength of the intrinsic muscles of the hands.
The fact is that using a printable mat in play dough activities for fine motor skills is fun, innovative, and creative. Kids love them!
Toy Theme PlayDough Mat
Kids love toys, right? I haven’t met a child who isn’t captivated by a new toy. This toy theme play dough mat builds on the fundamental “job” that kids have…play!
You can print off this printable play dough mat that focuses on toys and an toy theme and use it to work on fine motor skills and the intrinsic muscle strengthening that kids need to complete many functional tasks…and even play!
Toy Themed Play Dough Mat for Fine Motor Skills
Show your child how to use the finger tips and thumb of one hand to roll a small ball of play dough. By using just one hand, they can develop and define the arches of the hand, while strengthening the other muscles of the intrinsic muscle groups at the same time.
Then, ask the child to place and press the play dough on the circles on the toy play dough mat. They may need to pull off a bit of dough to make the play dough ball fit into the circles. This is a great activity for boosting visual perceptual skills too!
Looking for more ways to use play dough to increase fine motor skills? Add these play dough activities to your therapy toolbox!
Gold, Silver, & Bronze Metallic Crayon Play Dough
Patriotic Crayon Salt Dough Recipe
Shades of Red Crayon Play Dough
Harold and the Purple Crayon Play Dough
Here are more free play dough mats:
Free City Skyline Play Dough Mat
Enter your email in the form below and access your free printable play dough mat. Then, pull out the play dough!
Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.
