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Fun and easy kids activities

Candy Monsters

Oct 7, 20139,024 views
Play Doh
Play dough play : Candy Monsters Save
all halloween play dough monsters Save
halloween play dough Save
invitation to create with candy Save
monsters with tic tac Save
pokey sticks playdough Save

by TurkeyMom in Play Doh

Ages3–6 yrs
Prep10 min
Activity30 min
Leveleasy
MessLow
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class

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.

⚠️ Safety first

  • 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 the kids arrive

  • 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.from the author
  • Licorice is a WONDERFUL tool for learning and creating.from the author
  • The teeny tiny Tic Tacs and other candy pieces are great for little fingers developing fine motor skills.from the author
  • 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.from the author
  • Such a simple invitation to play, yet so much potential!from the author
  • Black dough really makes the candy colors pop.from readers

Make it your own

  • Give your monster Pocky arms and legs and candy corn shoes.
  • Try licorice pieces as another building candy.
  • Make a one-eyed spiky monster with a big googly eye and Tic Tac spikes.

Questions readers asked

How did you make the black play dough?

TurkeyMom used black liquid watercolor. Black Play-Doh is also available in stores.

The story behind it

By TurkeyMom · October 2013
invitation to create with candy
For today I used a bunch of Tic-Tacs, candy corn and Pocky sticks. With play dough in Halloween colors and the candy set up in a divided tray, this was my invitation to play.
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Candy Monsters: the original post

Time for another fun series. Check out our earlier Fall Play Series. This time we are bringing you candy activities for the kids by incorporating candy in art activities, learning activities, science experiments and sensory activities. 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 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

invitation to create with candy

The first candy monster was this cute little guy. playdough monsters These little fingers were developing their fine motor skills by using the teeny tiny Tic Tacs and other candy pieces to create their play dough monsters. pokey sticks playdough My 5 year old’s Tic Tac and Pocky stix monster. Does your child’s first creation in any play activity a face? monsters with tic tac 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* tic tac monsters She made the same monster now complete with POCKY arms and legs and candy corn shoes ( sadly, not pictured). Yeah, never forget the shoes!

halloween play dough

The 3 year old’s and the 5 year old’s play dough candy monsters creation. all halloween play dough monsters 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 from Housing A Forest

What readers say

💬 4 comments ✍️ 1 answered by the author

Answered by the author

“How did you make the black play dough?” · Ana

Author With black liquid watercolor. Black Play-Doh is also commercially available if you'd rather buy it.

✨ Readers' twist

Black dough from liquid watercolor

Asked how she made the black play dough, TurkeyMom said she used black liquid watercolor, and noted black Play-Doh is also sold commercially.

“I used black liquid water color to make it. I think black Play-Doh is also commercially available.”
TurkeyMom, Oct 2013

🎉 Worked for us

Candy opens new play dough possibilities

A fellow blogger loved how simply adding candy opens up all sorts of new ways to play with play dough.

“I love how the simple addition of candy opens all sorts of new play dough possibilities.”
Jen @ Mama.Papa.Bubba., Oct 2013

🎉 Worked for us

Black dough makes candy colors pop

A reader pointed out that the black play dough really makes the bright candy colors stand out.

“I love how the black really makes the candy colors punch ;)”
Ana, Oct 2013

Tried it?

Reviewed before it appears. No links, and please no children's names.

Read all 4 comments

  1. Ana · Oct 2013

    I love this! How did you make the black play dough? I love how the black really makes the candy colors punch ;)

  2. TurkeyMomAuthor · Oct 2013 · replying to Ana

    Hi Ana, I used black liquid water color to make it. I think black Play-Doh is also commercially available.

  3. Tammy @ Housing A Forest · Oct 2013

    The little monsters totally had me laughing. I love them!

  4. Jen @ Mama.Papa.Bubba. · Oct 2013

    Oh my goodness... These are SO cute! I love how the simple addition of candy opens all sorts of new play dough possibilities. :)

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