Play-Doh

For her birthday es received the Play-Doh Toolin' Around Playset, which includes molds, scissors and a pocket knife.  Before you start to worry, these last two items are totally safe for a toddler.  I don't think the scissors will cut anything other than the soft clay.  And the various "blades" on the knife are also just for the play-doh; the can opener tip is perfect for opening the tin of play-doh.  Two of the molds are like cookie presses; you fill a tube with the clay, then use a pusher to press the clay through a shape at the end.  One extrudes skinny spaghetti-like strands which es calls hair.  Yesterday she stood on the stool at the bar in the den for close to an hour playing with this new toy.  Part of the time I played with her.  She directed our activity--she was DaDa and ran a barber shop.  I was Bilbo and came in for a haircut.  For my part I had to mold a figure and put the strands of hair on him, then wait for my turn in the chair.  Once two goblins were in front of me.  I discovered if I rolled out a chunk of the pink clay then cut out Bilbo he was much sturdier than if I shaped the body parts separately.