This apple pie playdough activity tray is sure to be a big hit with your kids. It’s engaging, colorful, and smells amazing!
If you’re looking for a frugal way to enjoy an apple pie theme, this hands-on and creative activity is a perfect choice. It lets your children create their very own pretend pies while strengthening fine motor skills and sparking imaginative play.
I’m sharing my tips and ideas for making and setting up your playdough tray. Plus, I’ve got some cool ways to use it for fun-focused storytelling, sensory play, and more.
Playdough Fun with an Apple Pie Twist
Playdough has always been one of our favorite hands-on activities. It’s simple, frugal, and packed with so much creative potential. A total win in our homeschool!
When my boys were younger, I loved putting together playdough activity trays to keep those little hands (and minds!) busy. Whether I was helping an older sibling with schoolwork or getting dinner on the table, these trays were such a helpful way to spark imaginations and give everyone something fun to do.
This apple pie playdough tray was especially popular during the fall when apples were ripe and ready to be picked from the tree in our backyard. The boys would help me bake real apple treats in the kitchen. Then, they’d take that excitement right into play with this easy tray setup.
Recommended Supplies for This Playdough Activity
This tray is all about using simple and low-prep fun. In fact, you may already have these materials in your home or in your classroom. Here’s what we used but feel free to mix it up based on what you’ve got!
- Mini pie pans (these disposable ones are great!)
- Red, green, and yellow playdough
- Playdough tools (rolling pins, plastic knives, etc.)
- Circle cookie cutter
- Cinnamon sticks
- Brown felt strips (to mimic pie crust strips – if you’d like to include different materials for greater sensory experience)
Ideas for Setting Up Your Apple Pie Playdough Tray
- Place mini pie pans in the center of the activity tray for kids to use as their pie dishes.
- Add red, green, and yellow playdough for the apples.
- Set out playdough tools, like rollers and cutters.
- Include a circle cookie cutter for cutting out apple shapes and pie crust.
- Add cinnamon sticks for a neat sensory element and pretend spice.
- Lay out brown felt strips to act as pretend pie crusts for kids to layer on top.
Pop everything into a tray or shallow bin to keep things tidy and make setup a breeze!
Creative Ways to Enjoy Your Apple Pie Playdough
This activity is your playdough experience so I encourage you to tweak it to best fit your learning style and space. Here are some easy ways to play and learn with it:
- Pretend Bakery Time: Set up a simple apple pie bakery or shop where kids take orders, price their pies, and serve them to siblings or stuffed animals. You can even create order forms or menus.
- Alphabet and Number Fun: Roll out dough and use letter stamps to press in fun messages, like yum or practice spelling apple. Your children can also count the number of pieces they use to make their pies.
- Storytelling Prompt: Ask your child to tell the story of their apple pie. Ask questions like, Who is it for? Where will they take it?
- Pair with Books: Read sweet stories, like How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World or The Apple Pie Tree before or after your playdough time.
- Add to Your Fun Day celebration: This activity is great for Apple Pie Day (May 13).
Frequently Asked Questions About This Apple Pie Playdough Activity
Absolutely! Homemade playdough works great and can even be customized with cinnamon or apple pie spice for extra sensory fun. Just make sure your dough isn’t too sticky for shaping!
No worries! You can use small plates, shallow bowls, or even large jar lids. The goal is to give kids a space to create their pie – anything round-ish will do the trick.
Yes! Store your felt strips and cinnamon sticks in a zip bag or container for next time. And if your playdough gets too mixed up, you’ve got a great excuse to make a fresh batch!
Have Some Sweet Apple Pie Fun!
This apple pie playdough tray is such a simple way to enjoy a fun hands-on activity. It’s a fantastic way to keep little hands busy and brains engaged.
And I just wanted to give you a reminder that hands-on play doesn’t have to be fancy to be meaningful. With just a few basic supplies and a little imagination, your kids can create, explore, and connect.
Doesn’t this apple pie playdough fun look amazing? I’d love to hear about your experiences with it. And if you know a fellow parent, teacher, or caregiver who’d enjoy this idea, please pass it along. Sharing the fun helps others and makes my day, too!
