In 1933 Wallpaper cleaner was a hot commodity as, at the time, coal was the top way to heat homes. Even though it had the negative side effect of leaving a layer of soot everywhere, that was difficult to clean off of wallpaper as you couldn’t get it wet. But after WWII, sales began to dwindle as coal heat was slowly being replaced by oil and gas furnaces. These furnaces obviously didn’t produce the same type of soot issue that burning coal did, so cleaning wallpaper wasn’t needed anymore.
A nursery school Teacher is need of cheap materials to have her kids make Christmas decorations. Was in the process of searching for non-expensive decoration materials, she read in a magazine that wallpaper cleaner could be used for this task. Knowing her brother-in-law’s wallpaper cleaner company “Kutol’s” was in financial trouble, she went out and bought a bunch of Kutol’s, to see if it would work for her Christmas project. The wallpaper cleaner worked, but most important was that the children had a blast playing with it, she called her brother-in-law and told him they should transform the wallpaper cleaner into a toy. They simply removed the detergent from the dough and added almond scent and some coloring as it was originally white.
BY 1957 Play-Doh had three colours and the kids were using it at school.
Playdough play is a great tool to support child’s learning. Children use their imaginations and strengthen the small muscles in their fingers— as they will do while they hold a pencil and write. – Play-Dough can be played alone, with a friend, or siblings; it’s supports the child’s social skills such as sharing, taking turns, and enjoying being with other people. At the same time Playdough also encourages children’s language and literacy, science, and math skills.
Social and emotional development
- Allows children to feel competent – “I can roll the dough.”
- Help children cope with strong feelings.
- Connect their play to the real world (“Can you make a house?.
- Teach cooperation and observe and compare actions – “I can help you” “I can do it too”.
Creativity and imagination
- Children express their ideas through art and make-believe play.
- They learn symbolic thinking by pretending that the playdough is something else.
Allowing Children to Growth and play accordingly to the developmental stage.Http://www.organicplay.ca
Language and literacy
- Children practice listening to and talking with friends, siblings, and adults.
- Help children build their vocabulary as they explain what they are doing.
- Use language to invent stories about their playdough creations.
- When making a batch of playdough, the child learns about print and why people write.
- Following the recipe helps the children connect written and spoken words and learn that writing can be used for different purposes.
- Help children learn new words and communicate their thoughts and ideas effectively.
Science
- Learn about science through hands-on experiences.
- Learn by observing, thinking, and talking about how materials feel and how they change.
- Encourage scientific thinking.
- Help children understand the scientific concept of cause and effect.
Math
- Measure and count while you make a batch of playdough.
- Children note changes in shape and size as they comment on, compare, and contrast the objects they make
- Children can count how many pieces are making
- Sort and match – arranging their creations by size or color.
- learn about shapes (geometry)
- Learn how objects relate to each other (spatial sense)
Physical development
- By poking, rolling, and squishing playdough, children develop the small muscles in their fingers and hands.
- Through Play-dough manipulations, children develop eye-hand coordination, the ability to match hand movement with eye movement.
- Children strengthen and improve dexterity in their hands and fingers.
- Develop skills for writing, drawing, and other purposes.
Before Play-Doh we had a very good wallpaper cleaner product going out of business after Play-doh we had one of the best toys and play strategies that promote Play and child’s development.http://organicplay.ca
References.