Free Printable

It is fitting that we are “under the sea” in our theme this week since we have been getting rain for the first time in well over a month. We desperately needed the rain but the storms have been keeping us out of the pool and inside for much of the day. Thankfully, I have some tricks up my sleeve for just such an occasion.

One of the greatest ways to pass the time inside, in my humble opinion 😉, is with play doh! I love the fine motor skills that are developed and the creativity that is applied with a kiddo digs into a container of play doh…. and the SMELL! Seriously, what is it about smells that have the power to bring us right back to our own childhood??

There is so much you can do with play doh – from free play to letters, shapes, colors, building, and more! The possibilities truly are endless. One of my kiddos’ favorite things to do is to make fossils or imprints with their toys in the dough….. hmmmm now that I think about it dinosaur fossils just might need to make an appearance during dinosaur week…. 😁

Today we used the mats while we read fun picture books. We tried to recreate all the characters that we read about. It was so much fun to see their creativity!

This play doh mat inspires with its bright colors but leaves plenty of space for you to design your own scene. You can add sharks, octopi, starfish, clownfish, manatees, whales, dolphins, sea turtles, coral…. whatever you can imagine, it can find a place under the sea!

We printed the mat on paper and then laminated it so that we can use it over and over again. I love having a laminator handy – they are so useful!

My son even got out his favorite reference book for animals – 1,000 Animals – to inspire his creations. I love all the vibrant colors, variety of textures, and strange and unusual things that are under the sea!

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Then, I took this activity to story time this week! We read some fun books and then the kiddos made their own creations. Check out these adorable masterpieces! They were so determined and focused. Each child has his or her own style for approaching play doh and it is so amazing to see their imagination come to life!

Would you like to try this activity yourself? I have made not just one, but two!, play doh mats for you!

Click HERE to download the light blue sea play doh mat.

Click HERE to download the bright blue sea play doh mat.

Happy Creating!