Last week my preschooler was playing with Hi Ho! Cherry-O while I was trying to doctor up some tired old play dough with a little bit of cinnamon, when this sudden inspiration hit me: Why not make some bakery items with our new cinnamon scented play dough? We could even make a cherry pie with the cherries from Hi Ho Cherry-O (after all, it’s not like we ever really play the game the right way.) We had so much fun, we ended up whipping up fresh play dough (the perfect excuse to try Imagination Tree’s brand new 4 Minute play dough recipe!), creating a whole concoction of special baked treats, and then inviting Pooh to tea.
Supplies:
- Homemade play dough (this looks more “real” than the colored store bought play dough): you can add vanilla extract and cinnamon to the dough too!
- Rolling Pin
- Round Cookie Cutter
- Aluminum Foil Baking Cups
- Cinnamon
- Sprinkles
- Serrated Knife or play dough pizza cutter
- “Fruit” for the pie
- Cap or miniature cookie cutter for play cookies
Play Dough Cherry Pie:
- Make a foil pan for the pie out of a cupcake foil wrapper by cutting slits halfway down the sides of the wrapper and then folding the foil down.
- Roll out some dough and use the cookie cutter to cut out a circle for your pie.
- Stuff with whatever you can find for fruit. If you don’t own High Ho! Cherry O! (which by the way is an excellent board game for preschoolers), you could stuff with dried fruit or colored play dough.
- Make a top crust, and you are done!
Play Dough Cookies:
- We used a cap from an orange juice container as a mini cookie cutter.
- Add sprinkles and/or a dash of cinnamon. Yum!
Play Dough Cinnamon Rolls:
- Roll out some dough and sprinkle a generous amount of cinnamon on the surface.
- Taking one end slowly roll the dough up to the other end.
- Cut into rolls with a serrated knife or play pizza cutter.
Play Dough Donuts/Bagels:
- Roll play dough into small balls.
- Poke a hole in the middle with your finger.
- Gently shape.
Notice, all these directions mimic real dough shaping techniques. Not only will your children be developing fine hand muscles, improving their hand/eye coordination, and enjoying all the great benefits from pretend play; they also will be learning how a baker actually makes a pie, cinnamon rolls, donuts, or cookies.
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We grabbed Winnie-the-Pooh and invited him to tea. What great fun! And of course the perfect opportunity to read the chapter of A.A. Milne’s classic Winnie-the-Pooh where Christopher Robbin hosts a party for Pooh. (By the way, Winnie-the-Pooh was the first chapter book that Ben would sit and listen to.)
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If you are thinking this play dough looks too delicious for kids to resist eating, wait until next week when I share my own concocted no-stick dough recipe and the edible treats that we made with it!
This post is linked to: Tuesday Tots, It’s Playtime, The Kid’s Co-op Link Up, and T.G.I.F.
Your awesome what a cute idea!
Oh my! What a creative tea party! I wish I had done something like this when I was little…thankfully I have a little guy that I use as an excuse to do it now!
how cute!
This is super cute
Thanks for stopping by and yes you can pin to pinterest from my blog. I am on pinterest too:)
Thanks, Anu. I wish I could take photos like you! I will have to follow you on Pinterest.
Great activity! I just want to pick up Pooh and hug him.
Thanks for all the kind comments!
Those look good enough to eat!
Thanks for stopping by and for the pin!
I love all the details you worked into this for your kids – looks like they loved it!!!
Just seen your post from TGIF linky. So cute! We love playdough and this a great idea for creative and imaginative play with it. Thanks for sharing. Ellie
I love the concentration on the faces…especially with the sprinkles! Lovely idea and so creative…thanks for sharing with the Kid’s Co-Op!
What a fun activity – I am also inspired that your two are playing together it gives me hope
Thank you for linking up to Tuesday Tots
I absolutely love this pretend play set up. Thanks so much for sharing with Tuesday Tots. I am featuring this tomorrow. Drop by, check it out ,and link up for the week
Thank you so much! I will be sure to stop by.
These look good enough to eat!! How marvelous! We love pretend play and play dough, so LOVE this. Will be featuring this on my Facebook Page, The Golden Gleam
Great post. Love the combination of clay and pretend play.
So fun! They look good enough to eat!!! I love that you added cinnamon. I definitely need to try that…my daughter is obsessed with cinnamon!
Thank you SO much for sharing this post with me! What a sweet idea to have a tea party!
…danielle
Thanks, everyone! It was a ton of fun. I hope that you will try it. : )
This is real cutest idea.Thanks for sharing.I”l definitely try.