No Time For Flash Cards

preschool activities, preschool crafts, and preschool books.

  • Blog
  • About
    • Terms Of Use
    • Disclaimer
    • Holiday Gift Guide For Kids
    • Advertise
    • In The Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Bloglovin
  • Preschool Activities
  • crafts for kids
    Preschool Crafts
  • Preschool Books
  • sensory alphabet activity
    Letters & Numbers
  • For Teachers
  • Toddlers
  • Preschool
  • Kindergarten
  • Elementary

September 9, 2013 | 19 Comments

Playdough Kabobs – Preschool Math & Fine Motor

playdough kabobs for kids“It’s just pretend!” is a very common phrase at our house. From my daughter telling us she is eight not three, my son yelling at imaginary troops in the backyard, and even when we set extra place settings for imaginary friends at meals, we do a lot of pretending. Often pretend play is a way for kids to practice being an adult, try on new roles, and do things that are not usually for them. This playdough activity that includes both math and fine motor skills came about because my daughter loves helping me cook dinner, especially when we are having kabobs. She is a master at skewering veggies and will often make patterns. So on a rainy day { get ready for lots of those…} we decided to grab the playdough and pretend we were making dinner and do a little learning along the way.

Gather your materials. You will need Play-Doh, skewers, a bowl, and a cookie sheet.playdough kabobs supplies I was setting up the materials shot when my daughter grabbed my phone and took her own. I don’t think it was too bad! playdoughkid
Start by rolling the playdough into balls. This is great for hand strength which is part handwriting development. playdough kabobs rolling into ballsMake a bowl full – we worked on ours together.playdough kabobs fine motor skills for kids
Next gently thread the playdough balls on. If they stab the playdough too far from the center they will fall off. If they aren’t on well just show your child to give them a squeeze.playdough kabobs for preschool
This activity naturally welcomes counting. After she was done one skewer she laid it on the cookie sheet and counted all the playdough balls.playdough kabobs counting
When she picked up the next skewer I asked if she thought she could make a pattern. So she did. She informed me that it was pink and “orange pink”.playdough kabobs patterning

Simple activities like these tap into so many different kinds of learning as well as creates a space to sit and work on something with your child.playdough kabobs on the baking sheet

 

d

Books About Food

 

everybody_cooks_rice

Everybody Cooks Rice  by Norah Dooley is a fantastic book! The book follows a sister who is looking for her brother in their San Francisco neighborhood. As she goes from door to door each neighbor invites her in to eat some of their supper. Everybody is having some sort of rice dish even though they are all from different countries. My 6 year old really enjoyed this book and understood the message well , my 3 year old sat through it no problem too. There are so many future lessons about geography, nutrition, and travel packed in this one little book! Awesome find.

eating the alphabet

Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z by Lois Ehlert is an alphabet book extraordinaire and perfect for a letter F eek, since it’s all about food!  Wonderful paintings of fruits and vegetables seem ultra simple and it is but somehow the way the author has pieced this simple book together is brilliant. Maybe it’s that children learn about food at the table multiple times a day and feel proud being able to identify not only some of the letters but some of the pictures too! From a teaching standpoint I love that there are both upper and lower case letters on each page! This book will grow with your child, and beware it will also make you hungry.

yum yum dim sum

Yum Yum Dim Sum by Amy Wilson Sanger is a book that makes me crave dumplings something fierce but my daughter seems to like the rhymes and pink and red colors throughout. The book explains in a zippy text all about Dim Sum . It’s a board book targeted to babies it’s really useful to use to teach children about foods they may be unfamiliar with. There is even a little appendix with Chinese words for all the items mentioned in the book like tea, rice and tarts.

 

 
This post contains  affiliate links.

 

Filed Under: Age Preschool, Age: Toddlers, Fine Motor Activities, Food Activities, Patterning, Playdough, Preschool Activities | 19 Comments

Like this post? Share it with a friend!

Become an Email Subscriber

Sign up above and receive all new No Time for Flashcards posts directly in your email inbox.

You may also like these posts

remote preschool literacy activityunder the sea ideas for preschool
Next Post: Apple Picture Books For Preschool
Previous Post: Crafts, activities, and more! {Add Your Post!}

19 Comments

  1. Lisha says

    September 9, 2013 at 9:50 pm

    Great idea – hope to try with my 2 year old and also share in time with my parenting page fans at http://www.facebook.com/ConsciousParentingApproach – inviting you and your fans to come check our parenting tidbits and tips!! See you there!!

    to Lisha" aria-label='reply to this comment to Lisha'>reply to this comment
  2. Adora @ Gingerbreadmum says

    September 13, 2013 at 10:31 am

    I absolutely love her look of concentration when she is trying to skewer her kabobs!

    to Adora @ Gingerbreadmum" aria-label='reply to this comment to Adora @ Gingerbreadmum'>reply to this comment
  3. VJ says

    October 1, 2013 at 2:09 am

    This was actually what I was looking for, and I am glad to came here! Thanks for sharing the such information with us

    to VJ" aria-label='reply to this comment to VJ'>reply to this comment

Trackbacks

  1. Preschool Math Activities: Our Playful Math Curriculum - How Wee Learn says:
    February 8, 2014 at 5:26 am

    […] This is such a fun way to practice patterns (and so many other math activities for preschoolers too) by No Time for Flashcards!  Playdough Kabobs.  […]

    to Preschool Math Activities: Our Playful Math Curriculum - How Wee Learn" aria-label='reply to this comment to Preschool Math Activities: Our Playful Math Curriculum - How Wee Learn'>reply to this comment
  2. 15 fun & engaging activities that develop fine motor skills says:
    June 5, 2014 at 2:05 am

    […] young to really appreciate the excitement of making structures with marshallows and toothpicks, try this Playdough Kabob idea by No Time for Flash […]

    to 15 fun & engaging activities that develop fine motor skills" aria-label='reply to this comment to 15 fun & engaging activities that develop fine motor skills'>reply to this comment
  3. 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds - Kids Activities Blog says:
    June 5, 2014 at 10:20 pm

    […] Kabobs of play dough.  Form beads and thread them.  Great way for kids to explore texture and motor control.  via […]

    to 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds - Kids Activities Blog" aria-label='reply to this comment to 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds - Kids Activities Blog'>reply to this comment
  4. 5 idei de activitati cu plastilina pentru copii mici (+ o recomandare) | My Blog says:
    August 12, 2015 at 1:07 pm

    […] fina, deci este un prilej bun de a imbina utilul cu placutul. Descrierea activitatii o gasiti aici. Mi-ar fi placut sa am cateva poze din timpul activitatilor, dar daca in timpul jocului scot […]

    to 5 idei de activitati cu plastilina pentru copii mici (+ o recomandare) | My Blog" aria-label='reply to this comment to 5 idei de activitati cu plastilina pentru copii mici (+ o recomandare) | My Blog'>reply to this comment
  5. 9 Healthy Foods Preschool Trays! - smartE partE says:
    August 27, 2015 at 11:55 am

    […] Playdough Kabobs idea is from No Time for Flash Cards — thank […]

    to 9 Healthy Foods Preschool Trays! - smartE partE" aria-label='reply to this comment to 9 Healthy Foods Preschool Trays! - smartE partE'>reply to this comment
  6. Boredom Busters We Love: 100 Indoor Activities For Kids says:
    March 28, 2016 at 7:25 pm

    […] Playdoh Kebobs (No Time for Flash Cards) […]

    to Boredom Busters We Love: 100 Indoor Activities For Kids" aria-label='reply to this comment to Boredom Busters We Love: 100 Indoor Activities For Kids'>reply to this comment
  7. 15 Fun Activities For Preschoolers to Develop Fine Motor Skills says:
    October 3, 2018 at 10:19 am

    […] young to really appreciate the excitement of making structures with marshallows and toothpicks, try  this Playdough Kabob  idea by No Time for Flash […]

    to 15 Fun Activities For Preschoolers to Develop Fine Motor Skills" aria-label='reply to this comment to 15 Fun Activities For Preschoolers to Develop Fine Motor Skills'>reply to this comment
  8. 44+ Mom Hacks: How to Be Supermom When Your Kids Are Sick says:
    October 4, 2018 at 2:03 am

    […] Playdoh Kebobs (No Time for Flash Cards) […]

    to 44+ Mom Hacks: How to Be Supermom When Your Kids Are Sick" aria-label='reply to this comment to 44+ Mom Hacks: How to Be Supermom When Your Kids Are Sick'>reply to this comment
  9. 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds - Mom's Hug says:
    December 15, 2020 at 9:11 am

    […] Make Kabobs of play dough. Type beads and thread them. Wonderful means for youths to discover texture and motor management.   by way of No Time for Flashcards […]

    to 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds - Mom's Hug" aria-label='reply to this comment to 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds - Mom's Hug'>reply to this comment
  10. 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds – starkidslearn.com says:
    February 23, 2021 at 6:11 pm

    […] Kabobs of play dough. Form beads and thread them. Great way for kids to explore texture and motor control. Plus it will teach your child about colors and they can count each playdough […]

    to 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds – starkidslearn.com" aria-label='reply to this comment to 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds – starkidslearn.com'>reply to this comment
  11. 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds - اردو میں خبریں says:
    May 15, 2021 at 12:02 pm

    […] Kabobs of play dough. Form beads and thread them. Great way for kids to explore texture and motor control. Plus it will teach your child about colors and they can count each playdough […]

    to 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds - اردو میں خبریں" aria-label='reply to this comment to 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds - اردو میں خبریں'>reply to this comment
  12. 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds – Parent Babycareall says:
    May 15, 2021 at 3:51 pm

    […] Kabobs of play dough. Form beads and thread them. Great way for kids to explore texture and motor control. Plus it will teach your child about colors and they can count each playdough […]

    to 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds – Parent Babycareall" aria-label='reply to this comment to 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds – Parent Babycareall'>reply to this comment
  13. 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds – Child Development says:
    May 15, 2021 at 4:46 pm

    […] Kabobs of play dough. Form beads and thread them. Great way for kids to explore texture and motor control. Plus it will teach your child about colors and they can count each playdough […]

    to 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds – Child Development" aria-label='reply to this comment to 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds – Child Development'>reply to this comment
  14. 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds – Cupids Health says:
    May 15, 2021 at 6:27 pm

    […] Kabobs of play dough. Form beads and thread them. Great way for kids to explore texture and motor control. Plus it will teach your child about colors and they can count each playdough […]

    to 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds – Cupids Health" aria-label='reply to this comment to 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds – Cupids Health'>reply to this comment
  15. 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds | Kids Activities Blog - TechiAzi says:
    May 29, 2021 at 5:04 pm

    […] Kabobs of play dough. Form beads and thread them. Great way for kids to explore texture and motor control. Plus it will teach your child about colors and they can count each playdough […]

    to 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds | Kids Activities Blog - TechiAzi" aria-label='reply to this comment to 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds | Kids Activities Blog - TechiAzi'>reply to this comment
  16. 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds – Childrens Room says:
    August 5, 2021 at 8:11 pm

    […] Kabobs of play dough. Form beads and thread them. Great way for kids to explore texture and motor control. Plus it will teach your child about colors and they can count each playdough […]

    to 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds – Childrens Room" aria-label='reply to this comment to 80 of the BEST Activities for 2 Year Olds – Childrens Room'>reply to this comment

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search For Activities

Now In Paperback!

Buy NOW

All Activities

Become an Email Subscriber

Sign up above and receive all new No Time for Flash Cards posts directly in your email inbox.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Bloglovin

Copyright © 2008-2023 • No Time For Flash Cards - ACM Media LLC • Site Design by Emily White Designs