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Cornstarch Dough (also known as Oobleck)

Dyspraxic children (and quite a few others) tend to have poor dexterity.
Their grip may be too tight or too slack, or maybe the fingers don’t work separately as well as you’d like them.
Perhaps they hold things in a fist rather than a delicate pincer grip. Maybe holding pencils is more of a challenge than you’d like it to be.

One of our favorite ways to encourage the development of manual skills through play is with cornstarch dough. Important note: In the US Cornflour is distinctly different from cornstarch. However, in the UK it seems cornstarch is called cornflour.

You will need:
  • A large waterproof tray to put everything on
  • A bowl with 1 cup cornstarch
  • a spoon to mix with
  • A small jug with half a cup of water of water
  • Optional: a bit of food coloring
Show your child how to mix the cornstarch and water to make a thick cream… like batter or yoghurt.
Cornstarch dough is good for getting you some peace and quiet. Try it when you want a child who’s busy-busy-busy to just stop for a minute.
It captivates their attention. It’s fun doing it with a friend and good for developing parallel play. Adding some toy animals promotes cooperative play.
If you possibly can, do it outdoors. It can be messy. However, if you wait long enough it’ll dry out and then you can just sweep it or vacuum it.