“And I had but one penny in the world. Thou should’st have it to buy gingerbread.” ~William Shakespeare, Love’s Labours Lost
Today we wanted to make gingerbread cookies without the sugar and calories that come along with that. So we made them with play dough. Not the quite the same, you say? Maybe not…but pretty close. Our dough smelled so much like gingerbread dough that the smalls asked if we were going to be able to eat them after! I explained to them that this gingerbread dough was for making cookies that we can squish up and make all over again. And again. And then again! We could have MANY days of cookie-making!
Here is the recipe we made…
Now this activity is chock full of small-motor skill practice. Little toddler fingers get a work-out! Have a look and see what I mean…
You see? And all the while, my kitchen was filling up with the delicious scent of homemade gingerbread. I added a tiny tart tin with cups for some added baking fun AND more small motor practice for our toddlers…
Such happy, busy little bakers!
And when my own kids came home from school, they hadn’t missed out on the “baking process”…they could start their own cookie-making! So much better than coming home and all the fun is over. This activity can be enjoyed by many smalls, for many happy holiday afternoons!
Thanks for stopping by!
~Arlee, Small Potatoes
Small Potatoes 
Great aroma to work around, great activities for the holiday, and I’m sure the children enjoyed doing it. Thanks for sharing. Mtetar
This is such a cute idea! I bet it smells incredible. I like that you used edible ingredients in case any of the dough ends up in someone’s mouth.
I love this idea! Thanks for Sharing!
How did you stop them from eating it 🙂
Hehehe…I just told them it was play dough, and we are not to eat it. They helped me make it and saw and smelled all the spices that went into it. They all knew from the beginning that we were making play dough, not real cookie dough. No one even tried to put it in their mouths! :):)
I am going to try this with my 19 month old. Thanks!
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I love love love your ideas!!! 🙂 Thank you thank you for sharing AND most of all NOT charging! I’m a special education teacher in Frankfort , IL and have spent enough on classroom supplies for my kiddos. Its so nice to have someone who is kindly sharing their ideas!