Why do we use play dough at Sunnybrook?  Play dough is not just a fun activity, but a valuable fine motor and learning tool.  Children develop and strengthen fine motor skills and muscles while manipulating play dough with their hands.  They strengthen core and arm muscles and develop arm, hand and finger control while using tools such as scissors, pizza cutters, cookie cutters, rolling pins, etc.   Children roll and shape and form various creatures, letters, numbers, etc., that help develop vocabulary, creativity, imagination, problem solving, and letter and number knowledge.  All of these skills and activities are necessary for writing, a precursor to reading.  So even though play dough may just look like fun, it is a valuable learning and skill building activity!