Alphabet Playdough Mats for Fine Motor and Letter Formation

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Want a center your students will beg for? Playdough. Squishing, rolling and pinching dough builds the small hand muscles kids need before they can hold a pencil well, and adding letters turns that play into real literacy practice.

Playdough was the center my students begged for, and I loved that it was secretly building their hands for writing.

Why playdough mats work

• They build hand strength. Rolling and pinching dough works the arch of the hand that kids need for pencil control.
• They show stroke order. Each card shows the sequence for forming the letter, so kids build it the same way they will write it.
• They connect letters and sounds. Each card helps kids link the letter they make with its sound.

What is included

The Capital and Lowercase Letter Playdough Mats give you 52 cards, sized 8.5 by 5.5 inches:

• 26 capital letter cards
• 26 lowercase letter cards

"I love that these play doh mats incorporate writing the letter as well." (TPT review)

How to set it up

1. Print the cards on cardstock and laminate them so they last all year.
2. Put out a few colors of playdough and simple tools like rollers and cutters.
3. Store the cards on a ring or in a small bin by letter of the week.
4. Add a dry erase marker so students can trace the letter after they build it.

My favorite dough tools are in the Fine Motor and Pre-Writing Toys list in my Amazon shop.

Want numbers too? My original Alphabet and Number Playdough Mats include 26 capital, 26 lowercase and 10 number cards in full color and ink saving black and white, with a key that shows the shapes that make each letter.

"These are the best play doh cards ever!" (TPT review)

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Get the Alphabet Playdough Mats on TPT

Made by a teacher who's been right where you are.

Jessica Ann Stanford, Teachers Follow Teachers