Creating Play-Doh Mats: A World of Imagination and Learning

Play-Doh mats are a brilliant resource for young children, offering a perfect blend of sensory play, creativity, and learning. These versatile tools are especially valuable for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) children, preschoolers, and those with Special Educational Needs (SEN). By providing a structured yet flexible platform for play, these mats can help develop fine motor skills, encourage imaginative thinking, and support various areas of early learning.

Our collection of 200+ Play-Doh mats covers a wide range of themes and skills, ensuring there’s something for every child and learning objective when playing with dough.

Play Dough Mat Download Contents

We have over 200 Mats in our free to download PDF Here’s a glimpse into the contents of our Play Dough Mats Download:

1. Alphabet Adventures
   Create mats for each letter of the alphabet, where children can form the letters using Play-Doh. Include pictures of objects starting with that letter to reinforce phonics learning.
2. Number Exploration
   Design mats with number outlines and corresponding quantities of objects, allowing children to practice number formation and develop early counting skills.
3. Emotion Faces
   Create blank face outlines where children can add Play-Doh features to express different emotions, supporting emotional intelligence development.
4. Nature Scenes
   Design mats with outlines of trees, flowers, or animals, allowing children to ‘colour in’ with Play-Doh and learn about the natural world.
5. Seasonal Themes
   Develop mats for different seasons and holidays, helping children understand annual cycles and cultural celebrations.
6. Transport and Vehicles
   Create outlines of cars, boats, and aeroplanes for children to complete, supporting understanding of the world around them.
7. Food and Nutrition
   Design mats with plate outlines where children can create balanced meals using Play-Doh, promoting health and self-care understanding.
8. Storytelling Scenes
   Design mats with story-based scenes, allowing children to add characters and objects to support narrative skills.
9. Weather Watchers
   Design mats with weather symbols that children can recreate, supporting understanding of the world.

These Play-Doh mats offer endless possibilities for learning through play. They can be easily adapted to suit different abilities and interests, making them ideal for inclusive classrooms and home learning environments. For children with SEN, these mats provide a structured yet sensory-rich activity that can be calming and engaging.

To maximise the benefits of these mats:

• Laminate or use poly pockets for the mats for durability and easy cleaning.
• Use them in small group activities to encourage social interaction and turn-taking.
• Incorporate them into storytime by creating character or scene mats related to the book.
• Use them as part of a reward system, allowing children to choose their favourite mat during free play.
• Regularly rotate the mats to maintain interest and cover different learning areas.

The key to success with these Play-Doh mats is to keep the activities fun and pressure-free. Encourage creativity and praise effort rather than focusing on perfect representations. By doing so, you’ll create an environment where children are eager to explore, learn, and express themselves freely.

Download the Dough Mat PDF Here

We are currently making our Play Doh Mats available as a free download but would appreciate a facebook or pinterest share. Please share the link not our document. Thank you.

Final Thoughts about Play Doh Mats

With 200+ Play-Doh mats at your disposal, you’re well-equipped to provide a rich, varied, and engaging learning experience for your young learners. Whether you’re in a classroom, a home-schooling environment, or simply looking for quality playtime activities, these mats offer a world of educational fun at your fingertips.