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Playdough during Covid 19

  • 1.  Playdough during Covid 19

    Posted 08-12-2020 03:37 PM
    I teach kindergarten in Oregon. My district is planning to do in person instruction using a hybrid model. I'm wondering what guidelines you've found around the safety of playdough. I would make enough so every child could have their own batch.

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    Mary-Margaret Stockert
    Kindergarten Teacher
    Oregon
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  • 2.  RE: Playdough during Covid 19

    Posted 08-13-2020 12:13 AM
    Hi!
    I was at a childcare center in New Mexico in a preschool aged classroom.Every child had a ziplock bag with their name on it with  playdough just for them. I happened to have a large collection of plastic playdough accessories in my classroom.  I put all the accessories in six or seven larger ziploc bags. When a child wanted to use playdough they were given one accessories bag that only they could use and touch while playing with playdough. When they were done the accessories bag was put away to be cleaned at the end of the day.

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    Sarah Calvo
    Ivins UT
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  • 3.  RE: Playdough during Covid 19

    Posted 08-13-2020 08:15 AM
    We had a few 4 year olds in our summer Head Start program.  Each child had their own caddy with crayons, markers, pencils, journal, 1 can of play dough, roller, scissors, white board, white board marker and eraser.  They were told they could not share their materials.  If a child sneezed or coughed on the play dough, it was thrown away and he/she was given a new can of play dough.  All materials, including the caddy, were cleaned at the end of the day.  Other materials available to the children in the room were in small containers.  When a child was finished with the materials they were put up until they could be cleaned at the end of the day.  All materials in the room had to be able to be cleaned at the end of the day.  Unfortunately, this is our new normal.

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    Cherie McDonough
    Early Childhood Specialist
    Genesee ISD
    Fenton MI
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  • 4.  RE: Playdough during Covid 19

    Posted 08-13-2020 10:17 AM
    If you have room parents, elect them to make enough for each child to have their own and put them into individual small plastic containers with their names. I think one batch is suitable for 4-6 children. Homemade ones don't last as long, but if you add Alum (in the spice aisle), it lasts longer. Also, homemade play-dough can be fun because each week, the color and scent (using essential oils or boil herbal plants) can change. Neon and classic food coloring are available. Maybe, parents can experiment with the kids and make it by boiling beets or cabbage to get color instead of using food coloring with parents and students wearing masks and latex-free gloves. Invite children to think of other vegetables or objects that can be boiled to make color. It would be a great science experiment.

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    Ling Lee
    Evanston IL
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  • 5.  RE: Playdough during Covid 19

    Posted 08-13-2020 10:19 AM
    Each child gets their own box with playdough,  cookie cutters that spells their names,  123's, and shapes. They will use the playdough on trays 


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    Merisa Ankenman
    Desert Dance Daycare And Child Development Center
    Owner/Director/Teacher
    Utah, USA
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  • 6.  RE: Playdough during Covid 19

    Posted 08-13-2020 10:40 AM
    We were open this summer and we made several batches of playdough and rotated them by the day. In addition, COVID germs don't live past 6 hours (or so) in the fridge, so if you put it in the fridge at night it should be safe in the morning. Also - children can have their own trays of playdough or wash hands before and after to prevent germ spread.

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    Lisa Beck

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  • 7.  RE: Playdough during Covid 19

    Posted 08-13-2020 05:07 PM
    I am curious where you learned the virus doesn't live past 6 hours in the fridge- what was your source?

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    Debbie Markland
    Early Childhood Educator
    Learn As You Play
    Roswell GA
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  • 8.  RE: Playdough during Covid 19

    Posted 08-14-2020 10:54 PM
    Please cite where you found the information that refrigeration will kill the Corona Virus.  After reading your post this morning I have done some research and have found nothing that states this.  Actually most research said that even freezing temps may not kill it.  I would like to read where you found this very different information.   In these dangerous times to stating information without research and science behind it may be unsafe.

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    Donna Hernandez
    Early Education and Care Consultants
    Naples FL
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  • 9.  RE: Playdough during Covid 19

    Posted 08-15-2020 10:10 AM
    Hi Donna - Forgive me for not replying sooner, but I was without power for 6 days and am just trying to get caught up. I absolutely read that information from a reputable site and even created a powerpoint with it -but I am having a hard time finding it now, which probably means that the information has changed. I don't have a ton of time to search now - so just disregard.

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    Lisa Beck
    Bedford Hills NY
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  • 10.  RE: Playdough during Covid 19

    Posted 08-13-2020 01:22 PM
    We've been open since early July and made each child an Activity Bag that included their own writing, drawing and coloring utensils, glue sticks and scissors and whenever we make play-do or gooey gunk and such, we include it in their bag in a separate zippered sandwich bag. It's working well and they LOVE having their own supplies!

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    Lisa Moen
    Director
    Grosse Pointe Nursery School
    Grosse Pointe Woods MI
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  • 11.  RE: Playdough during Covid 19

    Posted 08-13-2020 09:19 PM
    I teach preschool in Oregon. Current state Early Learning Division and Health Dept regulations require each child to have their own batch of playdough. No sensory items can be shared. Even if the playdough is their own, it can still harbor germs. I have children wash their hands before AND after using the dough. I think it is up to you whether you want to make the dough "single use" and then send it home with the child at the end of the day or store it to be used throughout the week. I wouldn't re-use it any longer than that.

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    Nicole Fravel
    Owner
    wildwood nature school
    Portland OR
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