STRENGTH
Small muscles, big job
Dough play helps strengthen the small muscles in the hands and fingers. NHS therapists link weak hands with harder pencil work.
Pick a moveWHAT THE THERAPISTS SAY
Squash it, roll it,
pinch it.
A lump of dough is a small workout for small hands.
10–15 MIN a day of dough play
22–32% Salt in three tested recipes, by weight
- Squeeze and squash
- Pinch with finger and thumb
- Play, never eat
- Strong hands, safe dough
Children's occupational therapists use dough to build the hand and finger strength behind holding a pencil. Homemade dough is cheap and easy, but it is very salty, so it is for playing with, not eating.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Good for hands,
bad for tummies.
Therapists use dough to build strength.
Its salt is the reason to supervise.
SKILLS
Two hands, one task
Rolling, pinching and cutting dough builds hand-eye coordination and two-handed skills, and sensory play can help a child feel calm.
Try four moves
SAFETY
Store it high
Homemade dough often holds a large amount of salt, which is poisonous to pets and can harm a small child who eats it.
See the numbersGeneral information only, not professional safety advice. If someone is in immediate danger, call the emergency services.
A QUICK MOVE CHECK
What is your child
doing with it?
Pick a dough move to see what it works on. The bar shows how fine and precise the finger work is.
Based on NHS and council children's occupational therapy activity sheets. General information, not a therapy plan.
FOUR MOVES TO TRY
Ten minutes,
one lump of dough.
One NHS therapy sheet suggests 10 to 15 minutes a day, with one or two activities each time, sitting with feet flat and forearms on the table.
Squash and roll
Squash a ball flat with a fist, then roll it back into a ball and smooth it with both hands.
Make a hedgehog
Push cocktail sticks into a ball of dough for spines, a fiddly job for fingers and thumbs.
Hide and find
Hide small objects in the dough and pull it apart to find them, under close supervision.
Store it sealed and high
Keep homemade dough in an airtight container, out of reach of pets and children between sessions.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
A spoonful of dough,
a day's salt and more.
One figure on what homemade dough contains,
one on how much salt a toddler should have.
22–32%
Salt in three tested recipes, by weight
A US poison centre found about 3.9 to 5.7 g of salt per tablespoon of dough, and said one tablespoon of two recipes would put a 10 kg child in the toxic range.
HOMEMADE DOUGH · POISON CENTER
2g
Most salt a 1 to 3 year old should have a day
The NHS says children aged 1 to 3 should have no more than 2g of salt a day, and babies under 1 less than 1g, because their kidneys cannot yet process much.
TODDLERS · NHS
Pets are at risk too: PDSA lists play dough among household sources of salt, which it calls extremely poisonous to pets. Signs in pets include vomiting, excessive thirst, loss of coordination and, in severe cases, seizures. If a child or pet eats homemade dough, get medical or veterinary advice straight away.
SENSORY PLAY
Feel first,
then make.
Therapists also describe dough as sensory play that can help children feel calm and relaxed, while building concentration, creativity and play with others.
Some children dislike the feel of dough. The council therapy guidance advises not forcing a sensitive child to touch it; let them explore at their own pace, perhaps with tools first.
Questions
Questions people ask
How does play dough help fine motor skills?
NHS and council occupational therapists use dough to strengthen the small muscles of the hands and fingers. One NHS sheet notes that reduced hand strength can affect fine motor tasks such as using a pencil.
How long should a child play with dough?
One NHS children's OT sheet suggests 10 to 15 minutes a day, choosing one or two activities each day, with the child sitting with feet flat on the floor or standing at a table.
Is homemade play dough safe if a child eats it?
It should not be eaten. A US poison centre found tested recipes were 22 to 32% salt by weight, and said one tablespoon of some recipes could put a 10 kg child in the toxic range. Get medical advice if a child eats some.
Is play dough dangerous for dogs?
Homemade dough can be. PDSA lists play dough as a source of salt, which is extremely poisonous to pets. Contact a vet straight away if your pet eats any.
What if my child does not like touching dough?
Do not force it. Therapy guidance advises letting sensitive children explore at their own pace, for example starting with cutters or a rolling pin.
Where the facts come from
Updated
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board: Hand and finger strength activities using dough
- Westmorland and Furness Council children's OT: Playdough play, building strong hands
- NHS: Salt, the facts
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center Poison Center: dangers of homemade salt dough
- PDSA: Hidden hazards guide
- Pet Poison Helpline: Play dough (homemade)