Is playdough really only for kids?

Have you ever observed the way you feel when you play with playdough? Do you feel happy, maybe disgusted? When I play with playdough I feel relaxed and happy. This incredible clay was initially made as a kid’s toy, but let’s be honest, older people love it too. Playdough is a kid’s toy that has a soft texture that allows you to create figures, mix colors, or just make something and smash it for fun. I personally love playdough and I think it is a great stress reliever. I remember when I was a kid I used to play with it all the time, (I think I ate it too, ew). At my job, we have three cans of playdough in the break room and I love that they did this because when I feel overwhelmed or bored I can play with the dough which makes time pass by fast when the business is slow. We as adults could gain a lot from using Playdough, especially when considering how impactful is on children. 

According to the Early Learning Academy Sunshine House, “Much like the squishy stress ball you pull out from time to time, squeezing play dough is great for helping calm down your kids. Playing with the clay can help ease tension, release excess energy, improve focus, and express emotions. If your child is feeling stressed, sit them down with a container of playdough and watch their worries fade away.” As teenagers and adults, we could also use a creative tool that helps relieve our stress. 

Interestingly, playdough wasn’t always a toy for kids, it was invented to be a wallpaper cleaner. According to the Smithsonian the inventors and his family “realized it would make a better toy than a cleaning product. That turned the company’s fortunes around.”Once the potential was realized teachers started using it in their classrooms and from there the kids started using it for fun.

This awesome product has increased in an impressive way, money and popularity-wise. Some people may say they don’t use playdough for anything because they think it’s only a kid’s toy and they feel immature when they play with it. They’re wrong, playing with a kid’s toy doesn’t make you immature, it makes you a normal person. Playing does feel like a miracle. I hope this article encourages a new way of thinking about playdough and more people give it a try, what could go wrong? The worst that could happen is that you’ll have to buy a new carpet. 

Adults and teenagers have the expectations to leave the “kids” stuff behind and grow up, but there is no need for that. Playdough isn’t necessarily only for kids. Sometimes we don’t get the time to do these fun things, but when we do we should take advantage of that time and invest it in trying new things or something that brings us joy.