A play dough set is one of those kid items you might have never given much thought to, but it’s really the ultimate toy. Think about it. A play dough set is a kid activity, but it’s also a craft, and a sensory activity, and a creativity exercise, a learning tool, and can even be a cooperative game. I even use play dough in speech therapy! It’s one of those open-ended, brain-boosting activities that kids just love.
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My kids started showing interest in playing with play dough sets when they were around 2 years old. The good thing is that Play-Doh is non-toxic, and if you make your own, that should be safe, too, in case someone does happen to taste it.
It will depend on your child, but as soon as they are old enough to understand that they aren’t supposed to eat it, it’s time for their first play dough set!
With so many options out there, I wanted to share my personal thoughts on what makes a great play dough set and also recommend my favorite picks. We’ve had numerous play dough sets over the years for all 5 of my kids, so I definitely have some thoughts on what makes a good set (and what makes a crummy one.)
The Best Selling Play-Doh Set on Amazon
If you’re short on time and want to go with the play dough set that people love across the board on Amazon, here is my recommendation.
Play-Doh Kitchen Creations Magical Oven
Set Includes:
- Electronic Magical Oven
- 5 pretend food attachments
- 3 cutters
- Roller, knife, fork, spoon, plate
- 6 cans of Play Doh (12 oz total)
If you’re not sure that’s the perfect set for your little one, keep reading for more specific recommendations.
Best Play Dough Sets For Preschoolers
The Melissa & Doug Cut, Sculpt & Roll play dough set is my pick for the best beginner's set. It covers all the basics, making it perfect for a toddler ready to try play dough. The wood construction of the pattern wheels and rolling pin make them sturdier than plastic versions you'll find in other sets.
INCLUDES
✓2 pattern wheels
✓2 scissors
✓2 shape cutters
✓rolling pin
✓cutting/sculpting tool
✓4 small tubs of modeling dough that have play dough molds built into the lids
CONS
The dough tubs are super small, so you'll want to buy or make more dough.
The Play-Doh Kitchen Creations Milk and Cookies Set is the perfect inexpensive set for kids who love playing with toy food. It's usually around $10 on Amazon. If your little one loves serving play desserts & sweet treats to you and seeing you gobble them up, they will love this little set.
INCLUDES
✓6 Play-doh colors
✓4 cookie cutters
✓2 cookie stampers
✓a cup, a plate, & a knife/spreader
✓a textured rolling pin
✓a milk carton that "pours"-The milk carton has an extruder rail with 5 fun shapes so that when kids squeeze the dough up and out of the carton, it forms one of the shapes.
CONS
This set is pretty small, so if you have more than one child, you'll probably want to combine it with another set to limit squabbles over pieces.
The Melissa & Doug Shape, Model & Mold Play Clay is the best non-plastic set that I've found. I love that the tools in the are made of wood instead of the typical plastic. In my experience, wooden dough tools last much longer and are way less likely to crack and break compared to plastic ones. I just wish the company would eliminate the plastic packaging, too.
INCLUDES
✓5 wooden stamping cubes
✓3 wooden rolling pins
✓1 patterned wheel press
✓4 tubs of modeling dough, each with an animal mold on the lid.
CONS
Be aware that this set does not come with any dough cutters, though it does have stamps and molds.
The Play-Doh Preschool FUNdamentals Box has a ton of tools AND plenty of Play-Doh. The set comes in a sturdy cardboard box that you can use as storage in between uses. I love the play dough mats it comes with for more ways to play. The shape, number, and animal cutters are really useful for teaching these basic concepts to preschoolers.
INCLUDES
✓Fun Factory tool with 2 rails
✓3 playmats
✓30 cutters
✓roller with 6 attachments
✓10 number stampers
✓decorating tool
✓scissors
✓knife
✓rolling cutter
✓10 cans of Play-Doh
CONS
This set can sometimes be hard to find. The price also fluctuates on Amazon. I've seen it as high as $25. If it's in the $20-$21 range, that's a good price, but higher than that and you'd be better off waiting for the price to drop if you can.
The Play-Doh Stovetop Super Playset (Only on Amazon) is a great set for kids who like to play restaurant. It includes a small stove and all of the cooking tools they will need to whip up whatever play dough food they want.
This set has plenty of pieces so that several children can easily play with it together. It can double as a mini play kitchen.
INCLUDES
✓stovetop
✓4 stampers
✓saucepan
✓skillet
✓2 plates
✓2 forks
✓2 knives
✓extruder with rail
✓4 creation cards
✓waffle maker
✓toaster
✓tongs
✓spatula
✓scissors
✓roller
✓6 cans of Play-Doh (18 oz total)
CONS
I would consider getting a different play dough set if your child already has a play kitchen and kitchen gadget toys at home. Many of the items included here might be duplicates and a waste of money, so check that out before you buy.
Build-Your-Own Play Dough Set
If you’re not finding a play dough set that seems worth the money to you, or if you are following a Montessori method of choosing toys and keeping things natural and simple, you should consider piecing together your own play dough set. It is very easy to do with just a few items.
The set of wooden rolling pins, cookie cutters, and 4-inch spatula are really all your preschooler needs to have a great time playing and learning with play dough. Click the images below to check the current prices on Amazon.
If you’re interested in making your own play dough, you can find my favorite recipe in the post Candy Cane Play Dough.
Play Dough Sets are the Ultimate Activity for Preschoolers
You really can’t go wrong with a play dough set for your child. It is such a wonderful and creative screen-free activity that kids of ALL ages will want to get in on! I hope you’ve found this post helpful!
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