Playdough Prints: A Sensory Guessing Game for Kids
A Sensory Guessing Game for Kids
Looking for a creative, sensory-packed activity that combines hands-on fun with a playful twist? Try this Printmaking Guessing Game that brings together the wonders of dough play, printmaking, and a splash of silliness. It’s simple to set up, endlessly engaging, and perfect for sparking imagination and curiosity.
Gather your materials
❑ Playdough (store-bought or homemade works!)
❑ 5 or more loose parts to use for making prints, such as:
- Kitchen tools: Forks, potato mashers, colanders, cheese graters
- Natural treasures: Acorns, sticks, shells, pebbles, leaves
- Small objects: Corks, screws, empty spools, rubber bands, golf tees
- Body parts: Noses, elbows, fingers, chins (get creative!)
Get Set
1. Roll out your dough on a flat surface.
2. Arrange your printmaking materials nearby.
3. Invite a friend to play with you!
Play
- Decide who will be Player 1 and who will be Player 2.
- Player 1: Close your eyes!
- Player 2: Choose an object and press it into the dough to make a print.
- Player 1: Open your eyes and guess which object made the print!
- Switch roles and play again.
Want to mix it up? Challenge each other to make the most unusual print, combine items for layered patterns, or use the prints as storytelling prompts.
Why Play This Way?
This game combines the sensory joy of playdough with the creativity of printmaking in a way that’s as fun as it is enriching.
Kids will:
- Explore textures and shapes through touch and sight.
- Develop descriptive language as they describe prints and guess objects.
- Hone fine motor skills by pressing and manipulating materials.
- Marvel at the unique marks they create!
Plus, the open-ended nature of this activity lets children play their way, experimenting, guessing, and laughing along the way.
Better with a Book
Pair your play with a story! These books complement the sensory and imaginative nature of the activity:
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
A whimsical exploration
of creativity in the kitchen.
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
A celebration of textures
and the wonder of leaving tracks behind.
If you would like to see this game in action...check out our tutorial on YouTube for a fun play by play with Annie & Rachel. Get ready to roll, press, and guess your way to a memorable playtime experience!
Looking for more ways to spark imagination and creativity? Join the L•M•N•O•Play! Read & Play Book Club! Each month, you’ll receive a carefully chosen book and fun, hands-on activities to make learning through play easy and delightful. Learn more and start your adventure today!
