At Beststart Abacus, we believe that even the youngest learners deserve rich, meaningful opportunities to explore the world around them.
One of our favourite areas of play in the koru room (Infants and Toddlers) is playdough!
For our under twos, playdough is so much more than just a fun activity—it is a powerful learning experience that supports development across multiple areas. Playdough offers a sensory-rich experience that naturally invites curiosity.
It's soft, mouldable texture encourages infants and toddlers to touch, squeeze, poke, and explore freely. For many children, especially those still developing language, playdough provides a non-verbal way to express themselves. Whether they are squashing it between their fingers or rolling it across the table, they are learning through doing, supporting their sensory development.
Every squeeze, pinch, and roll strengthens the small muscles in children’s hands and fingers. These early movements are essential foundations for later skills such as holding a pencil, using utensils, and dressing themselves. Even the simplest actions—like poking a finger into dough—are meaningful steps in physical development.
For infants and toddlers, creativity doesn’t always look like making recognisable objects. Instead, it’s about exploration and discovery. Playdough may seem simple, but for under twos it is a rich, multi-sensory experience that supports development, creativity, and connection.
By providing opportunities like this, we are nurturing confident, curious learners from the very beginning.