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December 20, 2012 | 26 Comments

Footprints in the Snow {Playdough Play}

winter play dough play for kidsMy daughter adores playdough and cooking so last week we made some simple white playdough and added snowflakes ( that promptly melted of course – duh! Add after it cools…) and then had fun playing pretend with some forest animals. This is about as simple as it gets but there are so many wonderful lesson possibilities packed in this simple play.

First we made the playdough. The recipe we used is my favorite .

Something I do with my daughter ( or the toddlers I taught when my own kids were only imaginary) is to play Simon Says before doing someting where I may have to say ” Don’t touch!” a lot. Instead of turning this activity into a negative one when I need her to not touch I simply say ” Simon says touch your nose!” As it turned out I didn’t even have to use this but we still had fun with our pre playdough making game.

simon says

She helped me mix the dry ingredients, foot prints in the snow play dough for toddlersI  kneaded the dough while it was too hot for her to touch and gave her some extra flour to explore on the counter.  I slipped in some glitter too. footprints in the snow playdough activities

This playdough is best after it’s chilled so we made it before nap time. Then after nap time it was ready to be played with.

I love these animal toys. They leave real footprints. We sat across the playroom table from each other and just started making prints.  snow playdoughWe looked at them, at which were bigger than the others and how many we could make from one side of the playdough to the other. footprints in the snow playdough play Soon a storyline emerged the raccoon was saving the other animals from a “Snow bump” <– which is 2 year old speak for a snow bank. It was hilarious to watch her narrate a whole complex story line including some negotiation during the various rescues. footprints in the snowwinter  play dough play for toddlers

At this time of year with so much sparkle and wow and rush it’s a blessing to sit and be and take things slow and easy with a toddler . We’ve played this exact activity over and over and each time felt calm and connected after. Something I know most all of us can use right now.footprint in the snow playdoh play

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Filed Under: Age Preschool, Age: Toddlers, Animal Activities, Playdough, Preschool Activities, Sensory Activities, Snow, Winter | 26 Comments

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26 Comments

  1. Mom and Kiddo @What Do We Do All Day?` says

    December 20, 2012 at 2:42 am

    I can’t resist telling you that the PERFECT book for this activity is “Tracks in the Snow” by Wong Herbert Yee!

    to Mom and Kiddo @What Do We Do All Day?`" aria-label='reply to this comment to Mom and Kiddo @What Do We Do All Day?`'>reply to this comment
    • admin says

      December 20, 2012 at 9:44 am

      Thank you! I was going to attach some books but I was so exhausted ( I am sick) that I skipped it. Thank you so much for the suggestion!

      to admin" aria-label='reply to this comment to admin'>reply to this comment
    • Patty says

      January 25, 2013 at 2:03 pm

      Love this activity!!! Another great book to go along with this is In the Snow: Who’s Been Here? by Lindsay Barrett George.

      to Patty" aria-label='reply to this comment to Patty'>reply to this comment
  2. Candace says

    December 20, 2012 at 9:06 am

    We have zillions (okay, maybe not quite that many…but a lot) of Schleich animal figurines…how come I never knew they make realistic footprints? And look at your baby–what a big girl she is, now!

    to Candace" aria-label='reply to this comment to Candace'>reply to this comment
    • admin says

      December 20, 2012 at 9:46 am

      I know – she is so big and funny. I think I should do a video soon of her chatter while playing. Although she picked up a few less than desirable words so maybe still photographs are the way to go 🙂

      to admin" aria-label='reply to this comment to admin'>reply to this comment
  3. Nina says

    December 20, 2012 at 10:31 am

    This is such a unique activity! What a great way to build on their imagination and pretend to play with snow.

    to Nina" aria-label='reply to this comment to Nina'>reply to this comment
  4. Sarah @ Frugal Fun for Boys says

    December 20, 2012 at 1:56 pm

    I love the footprints idea, and the playdough looks great! I’ve been gathering some winter/snow ideas to do with my boys. We live in Texas, where today it is a super wintry 49 degrees! (It’s been in the 70’s most of this December!)

    to Sarah @ Frugal Fun for Boys" aria-label='reply to this comment to Sarah @ Frugal Fun for Boys'>reply to this comment
  5. pinkoddy says

    December 21, 2012 at 3:37 am

    Oh that is really sweet. She looks like she really enjoyed it too

    to pinkoddy" aria-label='reply to this comment to pinkoddy'>reply to this comment
  6. Teresa says

    December 21, 2012 at 9:58 am

    Thank you! This just provided 45 straight minutes of quiet entertainment for my recovering 3 1/2 year old.

    to Teresa" aria-label='reply to this comment to Teresa'>reply to this comment
    • admin says

      December 21, 2012 at 11:05 am

      That’s awesome!

      to admin" aria-label='reply to this comment to admin'>reply to this comment
  7. Deb @ Living Montessori Now says

    January 14, 2013 at 3:43 am

    This is fabulous, Allison! I love the idea of making footprints with playdough, and it’s awesome that your daughter was so involved in the process of making the playdough! I featured your photo and post in my Montessori-Inspired Winter Playdough Activities at http://livingmontessorinow.com/2013/01/14/montessori-monday-montessori-inspired-winter-playdough-activities/

    to Deb @ Living Montessori Now" aria-label='reply to this comment to Deb @ Living Montessori Now'>reply to this comment
  8. Kate says

    April 21, 2013 at 7:46 pm

    She looks like she is having a great time! I just found your blog and am going to forward it to all my friends who have kids…so many ideas here!

    to Kate" aria-label='reply to this comment to Kate'>reply to this comment
    • Allison McDonald says

      April 21, 2013 at 7:55 pm

      Thanks so much Kate!

      to Allison McDonald" aria-label='reply to this comment to Allison McDonald'>reply to this comment

Trackbacks

  1. Montessori Monday - Montessori-Inspired Winter Playdough Activities | LivingMontessoriNow.com says:
    January 14, 2013 at 3:01 am

    […] Footprints in the Snow from No Time for Flash Cards […]

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  2. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Day {FI♥R} with Free printable says:
    January 27, 2013 at 3:34 pm

    […] Animal Tracks in the snow (playdoh) […]

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  3. The Snowy Day {B4FI♥R} says:
    January 27, 2013 at 3:36 pm

    […] Animal Tracks in the Snow! (playdoh) […]

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  4. 40+ Activities for 2 Year Olds says:
    March 5, 2013 at 4:01 am

    […] It is a great way to have a less-mess art time. 27. Trace their bodies outside with chalk 28. Make tracks in playdough with your toy animals. 29. Practice pouring with your child.  Give them a pitcher and some cups. […]

    to 40+ Activities for 2 Year Olds" aria-label='reply to this comment to 40+ Activities for 2 Year Olds'>reply to this comment
  5. FIAR – Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening | Karla M Curry says:
    March 23, 2013 at 6:58 pm

    […] the claw marks.  I learn right along with them!  I had planned on making homemade play dough for footprints in the snow to go along with animal tracking but didn’t get around to […]

    to FIAR – Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening | Karla M Curry" aria-label='reply to this comment to FIAR – Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening | Karla M Curry'>reply to this comment
  6. - Whispered Abundanceâ„¢ says:
    June 18, 2013 at 8:23 pm

    […] Animal Tracks in the Snow! (playdoh) […]

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  7. 10 Creative Activities for Kids says:
    February 20, 2014 at 12:56 pm

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  8. 4 Montessori Gift Guide Units & Tons of Printables - Christian Montessori Network says:
    December 11, 2014 at 11:53 am

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  9. NEW Winter Picture Books & Activities Perfect for Home or Classroom | kateywrites says:
    November 16, 2015 at 8:17 am

    […] and behaviors that help animals live through freezing winters. After reading, why not try this simple animal track activity with young children or try this more advanced activity kit with your second to fourth […]

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  10. 100 Winter Crafts , Activities, and Treats | 123 Homeschool 4 Me says:
    November 6, 2018 at 2:26 pm

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  11. 25 Screen-Free Toddler Road Trip Activities 2019 | Entertain Your Toddler says:
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    […] Make Tracks with Playdough: Let your child roll out dough and stamp with the animals to make footprints. (via No Time for Flashcards) […]

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  12. 40+ Fun Activities for 2 Year Olds That They Will Love – Indoorify says:
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    […] bath.   It is a great way to have a less-mess art time.27. Make chalk board games, outside!28. Make tracks in playdough with your toy animals.29. Practice pouring with your child.   Give them a pitcher and some […]

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  13. 12 Engaging Winter Play Dough Activities - MOMS says:
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