Opinion on Playdoh for a 2 year old????

Zippydoo · November 2012

My friend has a 2 year old and she buys her playdough all the time...My husband and I do not buy our 2 year old playdough because we think she will make a huge mess and possible put it in her mouth. What are thoughts on this?

Cherryblossoms07 · November 2012

I don't see the problem with it. I bought DD playdough for her 2nd birthday; she loved it. I always played with her when she first started playing because I didn't know for certain if she would put it in her mouth. I still make sure I am close by when she plays so she doesn't make a mess, but she is really good at not making messes and picking up after herself.

If you have a problem with it and/or are worried LO will put it in their mouth, make edible playdough.

olechka · November 2012

We just got playdough, she loved it, she was more into watching us making stuff than playing with it herself through, i wouldn't let her play with it without me around yet.

superaunt · November 2012

get the crayola model magic- much MUCH less mess.

bridetobe920 · November 2012

Our DD has been playing with play doh since she turned 2 this summer. She doesn't try to eat it, and we keep in contained to her little table to avoid too much mess.

memali26 · November 2012

DD1 has been playing with play doh since before she turned 2. She loves it, asks to play with it all the time. Not once has she ever tried to put it in her mouth, and while I do play with her most of the time, I have no problem setting her up at the table with it while I do dishes or other chores. It really doesn't make that much of a mess - she knows it stays on the table, and when she's done she puts it all back in the can, even the little bits that often get left behind. I wipe the table with a cloth and clean up is done.

NiniJ55 · November 2012

I think it's age appropriate. We use Playdough with DS - it was sent with his homework from school. I also use cookie cutters to do hearts and squares, etc. with the playdough. DS still puts everything in his mouth but I just let him play with the playdough without supervision.

Jenn06L80 · November 2012

My DD is just 2, and we have given her playdoh. She is not that interested in it, and does try to eat it at times, but she is still really orally fixated and puts everything in her mouth. She doesn't make a big mess, she likes to take it in and out of the can.

Angela814 · November 2012

Why do you care so much what your friend is doing with her child?

My 2 yo loves Playdoh. She hasn't put toys in her mouth for months. We don't get it out for her often because it is messy, but that's more out of my laziness. She plays with it in her 2 yo preschool class.

orangecurls · November 2012

My kiddo loves clay, it is a great sensory experience. I supervise pretty closely so that it doesn't get too messy and so he won't eat it. I also make my own clay.

Art Teacher · November 2012

My dd has used playdoh for a long time - she was probably closer to 1 when we started using it.

You are going to be sitting with your child as she's playing with it - you can redirect her and remind her if she tries to eat it. And yes, it can make a mess - even with my now 3 year old - but do it somewhere that can be cleaned up easily.

Playdoh is great!

nosoup4u · November 2012

Uh, if you supervise and model playing with play-doh with your kid, she won't make a "huge mess", and you can remind her not to eat it if she does try to put it in her mouth.

mbgreenwalt · November 2012

DD has been playing with playdoh since last Christmas, she loves it. She put it in her mouth the first time we played with it and she immediatly spit it out and never tried again. It can be messy, we now only let her play with it at the kitchen table (we played once in the living room, but I had to cut it out of the carpet).

fancynewbeesly · November 2012

My daughter LOVES her play-doh. She plays with it in her high chair (on the tray) and has since about 14 months or so. She has yet to really taste it. I only give her one container--she loves to smash everything I make and rip it into pieces and put it back in the jar. It easily can keep her busy for about 30 minutes or so. It is our staple rainy day activity.

wall0307 · November 2012

DS #2 plays with it all the time. He has since around 1. It does go in his mouth sometimes. I guess it doesn't bother me. Both boys play with at the kitchen table only. It's not hard to pick up.

sunnybrook. · November 2012

My girls have been playing with it since before 2. One put it in her mouth. She quickly learned it tastes terrible and never did it again. It's non-toxic, so I let her to allow her to learn that lesson. It really isn't that messy. From the beginning, I have told them play-doh stays at the table and they help clean up when they're done. We keep it in a low kitchen cabinet so they can access it whenever they want. We've never had a problem, even with an infant crawling around.

lujain · November 2012

DD has been playing with play-dough since she was close to 1. It is one of her favorite toys. We let her play in the garage or outside on the patio.

TiffanyBerry · November 2012

DD has played with dough of some variety (playdoh, model magic, homemade stuff at preschools) since she was... a year and a half? It's like any other toy - if they're putting it in their mouth, teach them not to; if they make too much mess for you, teach them how to play with it properly. None of the kids I've seen play with it super young have had a problem, though some have needed a lot more close supervision than others.

saturdaynightdoubletree · November 2012

Kids make messes. The benefits outweigh the mess anyhow, playdough is great for motor skills and helping little hands get ready for writing in the future. My kids have had playdough since they were 18 months (me right there at the table "playing" too and making sure it isn't eaten). If you are concerned with LO eating it, there are some great homemade edible recipes out there.

shotzie · November 2012

MIL bought DD1 some Fisher Price Made by Me Dough and DD1 loves it. It doesn't make a mess and she's never tried to eat it. We have regular play doh, but I've never opened it b/c I love the Fisher Price stuff.
https://m.fisherprice.com/fp.aspx?st=7594e=productpid=63414

groovygrl · November 2012

I'm pretty sure that putting Playdoh in your mouth is not any sort of hazard, kids have been doing it for decades and I'm sure chewing it down & swallowing it. Re choking, I don't think I'd walk away from a 2 yr old playing with it but once they realize it tastes nasty I don't think it would happen too often.

As for the mess, that is the reason my kids don't get to play with it too often, totally selfish on my part. That, and the fact that they fight over everything, who has what color, who mixed the colors, who has the pizza pan, the slicer, the smoosher, and on & on. It's not my favorite plaything but thankfully it doesn't seem to be theirs either.

Just so you know, 100% of our playdoh was gifts so watch out, your LO might get some soon

kcisthebombdotcom · November 2012

I LOL at the idea of play-doh being too "messy". I think playdoh with supervision is actually pretty neat. They push it, they create shapes with cookie cutters--there's so much fun stuff to do with play doh and it's an excellent activity to help with fine motor development. both of my kids have been playing with playdoh since 1.5. I supervise so they don't eat it and they help clean it up when they're done. We also do stuff like crafts and paint which are a heck of a lot more messy. We choose activities that are enjoyable to them and are beneficial to their development--not just stuff that makes my life easier.

groovygrl · November 2012

KC_13:
I LOL at the idea of play-doh being too "messy". I think playdoh with supervision is actually pretty neat. They push it, they create shapes with cookie cutters--there's so much fun stuff to do with play doh and it's an excellent activity to help with fine motor development. both of my kids have been playing with playdoh since 1.5. I supervise so they don't eat it and they help clean it up when they're done. We also do stuff like crafts and paint which are a heck of a lot more messy. We choose activities that are enjoyable to them and are beneficial to their development--not just stuff that makes my life easier.

Your kids must be much nicer players than mine, our table, floor and everything is covered w/ smashed bits when we're done...they get up & walk around a lot (they're over 3 so keeping them put in a chair is not so easy nor do I want to force that) so it is smashed into socks, tracked around and I will not let them anywhere near carpet w/ it. I'm not really an anal cleaning person but I find that it gets everywhere. That being said, to the OP, the easiest thing for cleanup is to wait a little while til any bits left around are dry b/c they sweep up a lot easier that way and don't use a wet cloth to clean surfaces until you've gotten most of it off b/c the wetness will make it more difficult to clean up.

gingerfamily · November 2012

2 year olds are SUPPOSED to make a mess. Do you have any idea how many kids have eaten play dough and have been fine? There's nothing harmful in it.

anniebet619 · November 2012

It's fantastic! It's actually one of the cleaner activities she does (semi supervised). I made a huge batch for her 2nd birthday party and saved some of it in tupperware. I just give her three colors at a time and some different things to squish into the playdoh- giant buttons, straws, pipe cleaners and it is a real hit. I think the recipe I have is a little nicer than brand playdoh- it's a bit squishier so it doesn't drop crumbly bits all over the floor. It was super easy- I got it off of howdoesshe . com.

AmericanInOz · November 2012

my dd loves play doh - but I always stay nearby when she's playing with it & remind her not to put it in her mouth -she rarely does though

it's not that messy - you just pick up the excess bits that have fallen off when a bigger piece and change socks when they are done

I think it's a really fun thing for toddlers, and look if they eat a tiny bit they'll get the picture that it's gross, it's non toxic anyway

but yes, like pp said I wouldn't let her play with it without me in the room yet! now THAT would be messy!

meganandchase · November 2012

Our 2.5 year old got playdoh as his big brother gift when his sister was born. He does fine with it. He doesn't make too much of a mess, but we don't let him play with it in rooms that have carpet. The hardwoods are much easier to clean. He has put it in his mouth once or twice, but it's non-toxic and not that big a deal. He LOVES it, especially the cake making kit someone got him.

shootingstars00 · November 2012

We tried playdoh but we had to put it away cause she would put it in her mouth. But I think for many it is fine.

JoannaJes · November 2012

DD has definitely eaten some Play-Doh. She is okay. : )

kcisthebombdotcom · November 2012

groovygrl:
KC_13:

I LOL at the idea of play-doh being too "messy". I think playdoh with supervision is actually pretty neat. They push it, they create shapes with cookie cutters--there's so much fun stuff to do with play doh and it's an excellent activity to help with fine motor development. both of my kids have been playing with playdoh since 1.5. I supervise so they don't eat it and they help clean it up when they're done. We also do stuff like crafts and paint which are a heck of a lot more messy. We choose activities that are enjoyable to them and are beneficial to their development--not just stuff that makes my life easier.

Your kids must be much nicer players than mine, our table, floor and everything is covered w/ smashed bits when we're done...they get up & walk around a lot (they're over 3 so keeping them put in a chair is not so easy nor do I want to force that) so it is smashed into socks, tracked around and I will not let them anywhere near carpet w/ it. I'm not really an anal cleaning person but I find that it gets everywhere. That being said, to the OP, the easiest thing for cleanup is to wait a little while til any bits left around are dry b/c they sweep up a lot easier that way and don't use a wet cloth to clean surfaces until you've gotten most of it off b/c the wetness will make it more difficult to clean up.

I honestly don't understand how that works. Your kids can't sit and do an activity without getting up and walking around over the age of 3?!? How do they do things like finger paint and do crafts with glue? If they have some paint, they can just walk around the house with paintbrush in hand and paint the walls because that's what they're "supposed to do"?

lrn327 · November 2012

I think it's important to make some messes, that's how they learn. DS's been playing with playdoh since he was a year old. Sure he's tasted it a few times but that's why I'm there to remind him that we don't eat playdoh. DC lets them play with it too. If 16 can play with it at once and the mess isn't too extreme, I'd say it's okay for your one child probably. Wink

pitterpatter129 · November 2012

My kid plays with playdough all the time (since maybe 15 months old...) We've taught him to keep it on a cookie sheet and not eat it. It's a great distraction while I do things like fold laundry and do dishes. He loves to use cookie cutters with it too. Once he got where he wouldn't eat it, we added glitter to a few containers for more fun.

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