Want a simple way to help your kids enjoy fun sensory play this holiday season? This Gingerbread Playdough Activity Tray is a total win!
It’s a low-prep and frugal way to keep kids happily engaged. With a few supplies, your kids can make their own gingerbread men and other holiday goodies. This Christmas sensory play idea is perfect for:
- Gingerbread fun and gingerbread man activities
- Christmas-themed learning
- Quiet time play or rainy day fun at home or in the classroom
I’ve got some creative ideas to help you make the most of this activity with your kids. Learn more and how you can use these tips to boost holiday fun for all
A Fun Way to Experience The Holiday Season with Kids
I’m so excited to share one of my favorite ways to have Christmas learning fun with kids. It combines our gingerbread playdough recipe (which smells amazing) with a hands-on activity. Bonus points that it keeps kids focused and creatively engaged!
Playdough trays are simple and flexible so they’re perfect for both holidays and year-round fun. You can use whatever supplies you already have on hand . Trust me, there’s no need to run out and buy anything fancy. And I encourage you to think outside the box! Add in what feels fun and festive for your family or classroom.
I’ve built our playdough trays with gingerbread themes for both holiday and storytime fun. My boys have enjoyed these hands-on activities while I’ve read The Gingerbread Man and other gingerbread stories.
This activity can be what you want it to be – for sensory play, a quiet time setup, or just a creative way to unwind together. And the best part? You can pack it away and bring it out again and again throughout the holiday season (and even all winter long!).
Suggested Supplies for Your Gingerbread Playdough Activity
This tray is meant to be a simple and organized way to help your children enjoy a purposeful activity. I’m sharing some of our favorite materials to use for gingerbread themes. I recommend that you look through what you have and stick to that.
- Brown, red, and green playdough (try our homemade gingerbread playdough, too!)
- Foam Christmas candy stickers (candy canes, gumdrops, etc.)
- Peppermint embellishments
- Red, green, and white pipe cleaners
- Felt “icing” shapes (white squiggles or other designs)
- Optional extras: other colors of playdough, buttons, beads, mini erasers, pom poms
Related: Free printable gingerbread man activity cube
Tips for Using & Storing Your Gingerbread Playdough Tray
- Keep it fresh: Store your playdough in airtight containers or zip-top bags to keep it soft for weeks.
- Mix it up: Rotate in and out different materials for variety. Kids will feel like it’s a new tray each time!
- Quiet time ready: Keep the tray (and supplies) handy for when your kids (and you) need a calming activity.
- Holiday reuse: Refresh with different playdough colors or scents (like cinnamon or peppermint!) to carry this activity through winter.
Related: Easy design a gingerbread man activity tray
Learning Benefits of Gingerbread Playdough Fun
This gingerbread playdough tray has so many learning opportunities! Every roll, press, and squish helps kids build important early skills while having a blast.
- Fine Motor Development: Rolling, pinching, and pressing playdough strengthens hand muscles. It makes it great for writing readiness and scissor skills.
- Creative idea: Add small tools like a plastic knife and cookie cutters to make cookies and candies.
- Imagination and Storytelling: Kids can create characters or candy shops. Encourage your students to tell stories about them.
- Sensory Exploration: This activity engages multiple senses and creates a rich sensory experience.
- Creative idea: Add a sprinkle a bit of glitter for sugar sparkle.
- Focus and Calm: The hands-on motion of molding playdough helps kids relax and stay engaged. It makes it a wonderful quiet time activity.
- Creative idea: Turn on soft holiday music.
- Confidence and Independence: Because this activity is so open-ended, kids can take the lead. They can explore, experiment, and feel proud of what they make.
Related: Free printable gingerbread coloring bookmarks
FAQs About This Gingerbread Playdough Activity
Nope! You can use any playdough you have on hand (homemade or store-bought). If you want to stick with a traditional gingerbread theme, include at least some brown dough. During the holidays, adding red and green makes it extra festive. But truly, go with what you’ve got! Stay flexible, keep it fun, and let your kids’ creativity lead the way.
This tray works best for preschool through early elementary ages. Older kids often love joining in, too! Just remind little ones that the candies and decorations aren’t for eating.
When stored in an airtight container or zip-top bag, your playdough should last several weeks. If it starts to dry out, knead in a few drops of water or a bit of cooking oil to refresh it.
Absolutely! Use individual mini containers or muffin tins so each child gets their own set of materials. It’s a wonderful small-group center or sensory station for the holidays.
No worries! Use a muffin tin, small bowls, or even a lunch tray! The goal is just to organize the materials in a way that’s easy for kids to see and choose from.
Sweet and Simple Holiday Fun for Kids
This gingerbread playdough tray is a gentle and fun way to bring the magic of the season to life. It’s one of those activities that kids come back to again and again.
So go ahead and gather a few supplies, roll out that dough, and let the gingerbread fun begin!
👉 Ready to make your own? Check out my Homemade Gingerbread Playdough Recipe for an easy budget-friendly way to get started. It smells amazing and pairs perfectly with this activity tray for a full day of festive sensory play!
What ideas do you have for using this gingerbread playdough activity tray? I’d love to hear what you think in the comments area at the bottom of this post!
