Social Emotional Learning Art Projects: Peppermint Playdough

Managing big emotions, especially those that come crashing in like overwhelming waves, can be difficult for children. But with the right tools, caregivers can help kids navigate these intense feelings in a healthy, engaging way. Peppermint Playdough provides a sensory experience that helps children calm their minds and regulate their emotions. We spoke with Tom Timmerman, LSW, a Parent Navigator at Sanford Children’s CHILD Services, to explore how hands-on activities like playdough can be a powerful tool for emotional regulation and support children's ability to process their feelings.

Helping Children Manage Big Emotions with Sensory Play

When children are feeling overwhelmed, hands-on sensory activities like Peppermint Playdough can offer the perfect way to de-escalate. Tom explains, “Having a sensory item like Peppermint Playdough that can provide input through touch, sight, smell, and/or sound provides two beneficial elements for upset children: time and distraction.” This sensory experience offers a moment for children to step away from the stressor and focus on something neutral. “Even just taking a moment to relax and work through overwhelming/overstimulating moments is good,” Tom adds. The hands-on nature of playdough allows children to focus on the task at hand, helping to redirect their attention and begin calming their emotions. By briefly stepping away from the stressor, children can lower the intensity of their emotions and regain control.

The Calming Power of Sensory Activities

Sensory play, like squishing and rolling Peppermint Playdough, is not only fun but also has real calming benefits. Tom explains, “Sensory activities can provide a distraction away from events or people who created a large stress response Squishing and rolling playdough activates another type of calming technique known as ‘heavy work.’ Utilizing some of our strength to push or pull at something can reduce stress hormones and produce a more calming feeling in the brain. In the hands there is a larger number of pressure points which creates an even stronger calming effect.”

 “Children can feel a similar release through hitting, kicking, and biting (using their jaw muscle). Using something squishy provides an appropriate alternative to experiencing this calming effect.” says Tom.

Using the Peppermint Playdough Craft to Identify and Process Emotions

In addition to being calming, the Peppermint Playdough craft can help children express their emotions and develop emotional awareness. Tom suggests, “Caregivers can use role-playing and modeling to show their child how calming activities and sensory tools can help with challenging feelings.” This is a great opportunity to guide children in using sensory play to better understand and process their emotions. Taking a quick break to play with the dough can also serve as a useful strategy when transitioning between activities. “Taking a quick time out to use a tool or other calming strategy before allowing them to transition to screen time, play time, bath time, or any other part of their day they are looking forward to,” suggests Tom. This can help children manage those difficult transitions, especially when they tend to struggle with change. Tom recommends asking children about their experience with the playdough: “Notice how they manipulate the dough and create things. Ask them about what they are doing and encourage them to ‘show off’ what they can create.” This fosters creativity while encouraging children to reflect on their emotions. Plus, the scent of the peppermint adds a sensory distraction that can help children move away from negative feelings and focus on the positive stimulation the dough provides.

Teaching Emotional Awareness and Healthy Coping Skills

The Peppermint Playdough craft can also be an opportunity for caregivers to talk about emotions and teach children healthy coping strategies. Tom suggests pointing out how children seem to be feeling in order to help them become more aware of their emotions. By connecting the sensory experience with the child’s emotions, caregivers can help children identify what they’re feeling and how to manage it. “Ask them how they feel after a few minutes of playing with it to see if they are feeling better or the same,” Tom recommends. By checking in with the child and discussing their emotional state, caregivers can help reinforce emotional awareness and encourage healthy emotional processing. Additionally, it is important to praise children for their efforts to self-regulate. “Praise children for any efforts you see them making to self-regulate! They should also be praised if they are able to seek out a caregiver’s help.” Tom advises. Children should also be encouraged to independently use the Peppermint Playdough to reinforce their ability to manage their emotions on their own while also fostering self-confidence. “Help them to be aware of how they are able to calm down and how quickly they are able to get back to playing or spending time with their caregiver,” says Tom.

By incorporating sensory play into daily routines, caregivers can teach children how to regulate their emotions in a healthy, hands-on way. Whether it is squishing, rolling, or simply taking a moment to smell the peppermint scent, Peppermint Playdough offers children a way to pause, reflect, and find calm when emotions feel overwhelming.

Ready to get crafty? Learn how to make this awesome project here!