Discussion: Playdough Stress and Anxiety (4/19) Page 17

1/27/2016

62 Comments

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Would you use playdough for a stress or anxiety reliever for children in your care?
If so, how might you introduce it to children for this purpose?

62 Comments

Laura

4/29/2018 11:46:25 pm

We use play dough not only as a quiet activity, but also as a transition time period or during the evening times before pick up. This is when some of our kids our feeling anxiety and high stress so its a fun way to help them through the day. Its also a good morning activity. I prefer this to help calm the energy levels down before the next big activity.

Siamak Soroor

5/15/2018 03:29:46 pm

Playdough is a great redirector or transitiones for chidren.

Desiree

6/5/2018 01:47:56 pm

Yes I would. I would introduce it at circle time, or perhaps set up a "feel-better box" that would have playdough inside and if a child has stress or anxiety, they could be offered the "feel-better box"

Maryam

6/13/2018 08:41:03 pm

My children love play dough and ask me to make it together. They play for a long time together and create stories. Play dough keep them calm.

Melina

6/15/2018 11:53:29 am

I wouldn't go and tell them what its for exactly. I would offer and suggest it to a child who is in distress. Giving them options often helps guiding them onto the path we want.

Melina

6/27/2018 12:05:34 pm

I use playdough myself for anxiety and stress reasons, so yeah, I'd use it for a child who is experiencing a difficult situation.

I wouldn't tell the child directly what we are using it for, but I'd give them the option. Or I'd squeeze it and then ask if they'd like to try. It's a distraction that works as therapy.

Destin

6/28/2018 12:52:32 pm

Loss is tough. Any type of loss whether it be a loved one or friend. I've learned the many ways that play dough can help child (AND CAREGIVER) cope with these issues so yes, pulling out the play dough in such situations is definitely a move I would make. Solutions don't always have to complicated, and play dough is simple.

Hae Lim

6/29/2018 05:11:44 pm

1. Yes I would love to.
2. I would use this as a stress reliever by having a kid get a ball of play dough and just squeeze it to relieve his stress and help him relax.

Denisse Peralta

7/9/2018 04:07:09 pm

I will love to use this strategy, I never thought that playdoh can calm children down if the have anxiety the way that I would use it will role it up in a ball so that they can squish it and relief there anxiety.

Kyla

7/31/2018 01:49:56 pm

We often use playdough to help our children who feel their emotions particularly strongly. If a child is angry I will have him squeeze his anger into the playdough or make a fist and punch the playdough flat. Both are great for releasing his anger and anxiety in a safe way.
I always sit with the child and talk to them about why they are angry or sad so that they also learn to use their words to talk through emotions.

Angelica Sanchez

8/1/2018 10:03:55 am

yes, i would definitely use playduh.
i would just start playing infront of the child, hoping they would want to engage.

Rosemarie Navarrete

8/1/2018 10:04:27 am

yes i would build something awesome and ask if she or he can joint me

Kavitha

8/7/2018 04:38:20 pm

Yes. It is a good distraction for kids who have a hard time separating from their parents. This helps them calm down.

Debra Barrett

8/10/2018 06:31:19 pm

Yes. When a new child starts at the center have one of the other children in the class set and play with play dough together.

Mattie

8/13/2018 05:19:56 pm

Playdough is a good distraction from all their stress and anxiety. I would use it as a fun game and as a distraction.

Ellie

8/26/2018 05:14:45 pm

Yes, I would and in fact do use it.
I offer it every morning at drop off during "free play". It's a great way to help kids deal with saying goodbye to mom/dad. As a parent, I didn't always want to deal with the "mess" of it, which is why as a preschool teacher I love making it accessible daily.

Christine Kim

8/26/2018 05:52:56 pm

We use play dough for children who always seems to have a lot of energy or with children who have high temper. It is a good way for them to relax and then start the day or before joining the class again. We also use it as an activity when we need to work on motor skills or when we need a slower paced activity.

Emily

8/27/2018 04:55:41 pm

Play dough is a great way to alleviate stress and anxiety. If a child is having a hard time we’ll pull out the play dough and let them play with it.

carolyn

8/28/2018 08:52:19 am

1. yes I use it daily in my classroom.
2. I have autistic kids and high needs kids who benefit from alone time with playdoh

Xiaowei Chen

9/11/2018 02:27:03 pm

We use playdough a lot at my child care center. I would definitely use playdough for a stress or anxiety reliever for children.
I use the playdough to teach children some math concepts and training fine motor skills, such as grabing, rolling, and cutting with knife etc.

Loubna Madani

9/25/2018 03:41:44 pm

I would use play doe as a stress reveler it always the children to have time to sit and work on some work themselves. they are allowed to make what they want with the play doe and use their creativity

Jacqui

9/28/2018 07:17:19 pm

I would definitely use play dough as a stress reliever. Especially with toddlers who have a hard time separating from parents. It’s something fun and recognizable for them to open up to their new surroundings.

Macy

10/5/2018 06:18:50 pm

Playdough is considered a special treat in our facility, so I wouldn't have thought to use it as an anxiety relief. I would use it 1 on 1 in a separate area of the classroom so as to prevent other children from being upset by not having the same opportunity.

Lara

10/10/2018 11:43:31 am

Yes. helps children with transition time stress

Colby

10/18/2018 09:03:28 pm

Yes, by explaining how playing with the playdoh and keeping your hands busy can distract your brain from stress and other negative emotions. I could give a child some playdoh when they are sitting and having a break to think about a negative choice they had made to keep their hands and mind busy.

Melissa Junker

10/27/2018 11:54:32 am

Yes. I would bring out play doh for a child if they were having a hard time

Nancy Madrigal

11/4/2018 10:06:37 am

Yes, play doh can be very help full for anxiety and stress for children. Can help relax children and bring some quit time to center.

Elizabeth

11/7/2018 07:04:15 pm

I would introduce it to a child if they are having a hard time, and use it as a way to discuss whats going on. I think it helps distract and center their mind

GIANINA KEYS

11/10/2018 02:21:16 pm

Playdough is a great redirector or transitiones for chidren.

GIANINA KEYS

11/10/2018 03:27:28 pm

1) I would use playdough as a stress reliever-they can move it around and focus on it.
2) when the child is having a tantrum then I can give them playdough to call them down

Olga Dyakonov

11/11/2018 08:31:00 pm

Yes I would. Play dough is a great for children. It helps children with transition time stress

Ailing Yan

11/18/2018 03:06:13 pm

Yes, I use play dough daily as a stress reliever,help kids with transition time.

Tanya

11/24/2018 11:40:57 am

Yes,I use play dough as a stress reliever. I seat together with child telling the story and playing together.

Eun link

11/25/2018 04:57:11 pm

Of course.
We will play with the playdough based on the contents of the circle time and the story time.

Amber

11/26/2018 01:52:27 pm

Yes. Something as simple and squeezing or pulling dough.

Tatiana Polyakova

11/26/2018 02:24:24 pm

Yes, we use play dough as stress reliever. I seat together with child telling the story and playing together

Carol

11/28/2018 04:45:29 am

I use it myself to relieve stress. I would ask the child if they would like to use try it or touch it

Jessica

12/2/2018 04:53:10 pm

Yes, I regularly use playdough as a stress & anxiety reliever. It’s a fun way to even calm my own mind. I introduce it by sitting at the table and starting to play with it myself. Then I ask the children if they would like to play with it too. Most of the time, the older kids don’t even have to be asked, they just reach for it; instinctively knowing what to do.

Breanna

12/4/2018 05:53:28 pm

I have a little guy in my classroom who struggles throughout the day with changes, transitioning, and sharing. He often resorts to biting or hitting because he doesn't know how to express himself. I'm going to start offering to let him do playdough during those high stress situations and see if it helps distract him and calm his anxiety.

Chloe

12/5/2018 09:42:25 pm

Yes I would use it, i actually have a child who has struggled with high anxiety and i am going to make it a quite activity option to see if it helps them calm down and have less outbursts through out the day.

Marjorie hamrick

12/7/2018 06:35:19 pm

Yes, absolutely. If a child is getting stressed, I would use it in a quiet area and hand them play dough while relaxing in a beanbag chair.

Elaina

12/12/2018 06:58:10 pm

play dough is a great redirector for kids it lets them put off what they are dealing with and express themselves with what they create with playdough

Tim

12/13/2018 12:10:27 pm

Yes, I would use playdough to reduce stress and anxiety in children. I would introduce it casually by showing them how I roll it on a table & cut it with cookie cutters. It’s a great redirection tool.

Drew

12/15/2018 11:18:52 am

Not only would I use play dough as a stress relieving activity, I often do. I've found that when classroom energy is high and some children are displaying signs of anxiety, play dough (and other similar tactile engagements) help the children to calm down and center. In these moments I try to set the play dough out in small groups, or in a somewhat isolated area, depending the child(ren) and their individual needs. I also find that sitting down and playing with the play dough myself helps to create a mellower environment and can encourage shyer children to join in the fun.

Wanda

12/16/2018 03:02:12 pm

Yes I would, it seems to help calm the kids down.

When the kids are starting to act up I would pull the play dough bags out and set it on the table

Pati Looper

12/17/2018 04:35:31 pm

Yes have used it to calm down children

Andrey Dyakonov

12/19/2018 11:53:22 am

Yes, i would definitely use play dough. We use play dough a lot We use play dough for a stress or anxiety reliever for children.
I use the play dough to teach children some math concepts and training fine motor skills.

Andrey Dyakonov

12/19/2018 12:58:52 pm

yes, i would definitely use play dough

yana

12/26/2018 06:21:15 pm

We have used this technique, and it works very well.

pati

12/27/2018 09:49:14 am

great way to calm down a stressed child in most situations.

Misaki

12/27/2018 10:00:38 am

Yes. Play dough is a good tool to distract children when they are having hard time making transitions. I would ask children if they are interested in playing with it first.

B Profit

12/27/2018 01:43:40 pm

Yes, I use playdough for this reason in the classroom. I first introduce children to the dough, and how we use it in the classroom. Then I allow children to use it whenever they like. I give children this choice when they are upset.

Anzhelika

12/28/2018 11:54:37 am

It's a great stress reliever because kids usually don't know how to relax and this teaches them to put their energy in something else.

dasha unguryan

12/30/2018 11:11:15 pm

Yes, i think that it is a really great for stress relieve. But I would give the child a choice.

vladimir unguryan

12/31/2018 04:38:16 pm

yes I would use this to help the kids.

Brandi Smith

1/1/2019 10:26:32 am

I would definitely use Plymouth for stress/anxiety relief. I would offer it to a child that is having a hard time coming in. I might do a circle time segment and go over various times to use playdough.

Rahele Shishegaran

1/9/2019 09:37:37 pm

1-yes
we always have playdough in our classroom .playdough can keep energetic child calm.

Afton

1/10/2019 09:44:10 am

Yes, we have used play dough in the classroom to reduce anxiety and to practice mindfulness. I have used it where we also add an additional sensory stimulation in such as making the dough cold which often times can help children focus on the new sensation reducing their anxiety and channeling their energy into warming the dough and seeing how their muscle movements can make the dough more malleable. I would introduce this in a morning meeting to explain how we would use the dough and then allow children to use it when they need it in the classroom.

Michelle

2/18/2019 06:46:19 pm

Yes I agree that paydoh is a calming tool and I use in in the class room as often as I can

Barbara C

3/29/2019 06:28:50 pm

We love to work with playdough at school. We have 3 trays that are set up with playdough and a few cookie cutters and a rolling pin. Introducing playdough to young children is usually just taking the time to sit down and start maneuvering the playdough. They usually will sit down and join you in the masterpiece you are putting together.

Charity R Bettelyoun

8/4/2019 03:44:15 pm

1) yes I would play dough is great for helping children who are having a tough time when they are stressed or anxious about something
2) we have a feel better box in our classroom and I would introduced it to the children during Circle time and remind them that anytime they're feeling stressed out they can go to the feel better box I would also mention to them that we could use Play-Doh it is a way to to feel better if we wanted or when a child is already having a tough time I could individually ask them if they would like to play Play-Doh to help

Sandi

11/10/2019 09:41:52 am

I will love to use this strategy, I never thought that playdoh was calming to children. If they have anxiety, I will role it up into a ball so that they can squish it and create with it to relieve their anxiety.

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Discussion: Playdough Stress and Anxiety (4/19) Page 17

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