# Candy Monsters > Set out Halloween-colored play dough, googly eyes and small candies (Tic Tacs, candy corn, Pocky sticks) in a divided tray. Kids build silly play dough monsters while working on fine motor skills. - URL: https://www.funlittles.com/play-dough-play-candy-monsters-2/ - Ages: 3–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: low - Time: prep 10 min, activity 30 min - Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class - Skills: fine-motor, creativity, sensory-exploration - Cautions: wheat-gluten, dairy, soy, corn, food-dye, ingestion-risk ## Materials (one batch) - Play dough in Halloween colors (e.g. orange, black, green, purple) - Black liquid watercolor (optional) - Googly eyes - Tic Tac mints (assorted) - Candy corn - Pocky sticks - 1 piece Divided serving tray (household) ## Substitutions - Instead of black liquid watercolor: Store-bought black Play-Doh (TurkeyMom notes black Play-Doh is also commercially available.) - Instead of tic tacs: Any small candies your kids aren't too excited about eating (TurkeyMom chose candy her kids weren't keen on.) ## Safety - Tic Tacs, candy corn and googly eyes are small choking hazards. Supervise closely, especially with younger children. - Candy that has been pressed into play dough is a building material, not a snack. Keep separate clean candy if you plan to offer a treat. - Play dough is not food. Don't let kids eat it. - Check candy and play dough labels for allergens before the activity. Pocky are biscuit sticks, and many play doughs are flour-based. - Liquid watercolor used to dye the dough may stain hands, clothes and surfaces. ## Before you start - Make or buy play dough in Halloween colors. Tint some black with black liquid watercolor. - Set the candy out in a divided tray with the play dough in the center. ## Steps 1. Look at the tray of play dough and candy and pick your colors. 2. Roll a ball of play dough for your monster's body or head. 3. Press in googly eyes to give your monster a face. 4. Push in Tic Tacs and candy pieces for teeth, noses and spikes. 5. Stick in Pocky sticks for arms, legs or antennae. 6. Add candy corn shoes. Never forget the shoes! 7. Line up all your monsters and introduce them to each other. ## Tips - I tried to choose candy my kids are not terribly excited about. Yes, there are a couple my kids will not eat. - Licorice is a WONDERFUL tool for learning and creating. - The teeny tiny Tic Tacs and other candy pieces are great for little fingers developing fine motor skills. - Is your child's first creation in any play activity a face? Ours was. Then she went a more elaborate route with Pocky arms and legs and candy corn shoes. - Such a simple invitation to play, yet so much potential! - Black dough really makes the candy colors pop. (from readers) ## FAQ **How did you make the black play dough?** TurkeyMom used black liquid watercolor. Black Play-Doh is also available in stores. ## The original post by TurkeyMom (2013) Time for another fun series. Check out our earlier [**Fall Play Series**](https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activities-apple-dough-recipe/). This time we are bringing you candy activities for the kids by incorporating candy in **[art activities](https://www.funlittles.com/category/art-projects/), [learning activities](https://www.funlittles.com/category/math-play/), [science experiments](https://www.funlittles.com/category/science-2/) and [sensory activities.](https://www.funlittles.com/category/sensory-bins/)** We are collaborating with many bloggers ( listed at the end) who are also bringing you all wonderful play ideas with candy. Today we are using our favorite sensory material - play dough! Our list of [**play dough play**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/play-doh/) ideas here. **Materials** - Play dough - Googly eyes - Candy ### Play dough play ideas with candy I tried to choose candy that my kids are not terribly excited about ( yes there are a couple my kids will not eat) I actually had a huge stash of licorice to use in learning and art. Ironically my 5 year old acquired the love for licorice ( yikes!) I'd have to say licorice is a WONDERFUL tool for learning and creating. Check for tomorrow's post for more ideas with licorice. For today I used a bunch of Tic-Tacs, candy corn and Pocky sticks. ( they love pocky sticks though) With play dough made in Halloween colors and the candy set up in a divided tray this was my invitation to play. I used black liquid water color to make black playdough ### The first candy monster was this cute little guy. These little fingers were developing their [**fine motor skills**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/fine-motor-activities/) by using the teeny tiny Tic Tacs and other candy pieces to create their play dough monsters. My 5 year old's Tic Tac and Pocky stix monster. Does your child's first creation in any play activity a face? Not being satisfied with a simple face, she went on a more elaborate route. * Check out her very detailed peacock (like!) figure she made with [**spices and play dough**](https://www.funlittles.com/play-dough-play-spices-play-dough/)* She made the same monster now complete with POCKY arms and legs and candy corn shoes ( sadly, not pictured). Yeah, never forget the shoes! The 3 year old's and the 5 year old's play dough candy monsters creation. Such a simple invitation to play yet so much potential! **Thanks for reading** **Hershey's Kiss Chocolate Play dough recipe** from Learn Play Imagine [**Candy Potions**](http://www.housingaforest.com/candy-potions/) from Housing A Forest