Children have an amazing ability to turn the simplest materials into something imaginative. A little dough can become an ice-cream shop, a candy store, a birthday cake, or an entire world of sweet creations.
The Candy DoughLab Themed Kit from The Children's Lab is designed around exactly this kind of open-ended sensory play. Instead of simply giving children something to play with, it combines colourful playdough, themed cutters and creative activities to encourage hands-on exploration, imagination and learning.
Explore the Candy DoughLab Themed Kit
🍭 What Is the Candy DoughLab Themed Kit?
The Candy DoughLab Themed Kit is a themed sensory-play set inspired by everyone's favourite sweet treats. According to The Children's Lab, the kit includes 3 tubs of playdough in 3 colours and 5 themed eco-cutters. (THE CHILDRENS LAB)
The dough can be squished, rolled, pressed, pinched and shaped, while the themed cutters allow children to create different dessert-inspired designs.
The kit includes cutters shaped like:
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🍦 Ice-cream scoop
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🧇 Waffle cone
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🍭 Lollipop
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🍬 Popsicle
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🍬 Toffee/wrapped candy
The product page also lists themed dough varieties such as Chocolate Cake, Banana and Cotton Candy. (THE CHILDRENS LAB)
👐 More Than Just Playdough
One of the biggest benefits of sensory play is that children learn while they play.
The repeated movements involved in squeezing, rolling, pinching and pressing dough can help children practise fine motor control and hand strength. The Children's Lab also highlights creativity, focus, imagination, emotional expression, language development and mindfulness among the skills the kit can support. (THE CHILDRENS LAB)
This makes the Candy DoughLab a fun activity while also giving children opportunities to practise important developmental skills.
🎨 A World of Imagination
Give a child some colourful dough and a few simple tools, and there is no single "correct" way to play.
One child might create a colourful ice-cream shop. Another might make an imaginary candy factory. Someone else might use the dough to create characters and tell an entire story.
This open-ended approach encourages children to experiment rather than simply follow instructions.
Parents can also join in by asking questions such as:
"What are you making?"
"What flavours are in your candy shop?"
"How many ice creams did you make?"
"Can you make a pattern using two colours?"
A simple play session can quickly become an opportunity for storytelling, counting, colour recognition and communication.
🧠 Learning Through Hands-On Sensory Play
The Candy DoughLab can be incorporated into several simple learning activities.
🔢 Counting & Maths
Children can make:
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5 lollipops
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3 ice creams
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10 candies
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Colour patterns
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Different-sized treats
This introduces basic counting, comparison and patterning in a playful way.
🔤 Letters & Language
Children can roll the dough into thin shapes and use it to practise letters, numbers and simple words.
Parents can also encourage storytelling by asking children to describe their imaginary candy shop or explain how they created their treats.
✋ Fine Motor Practice
Rolling, squeezing, pulling, pinching and pressing the dough provides repeated hand movements. These activities can help children practise using their hands and fingers with greater control. (THE CHILDRENS LAB)
🎭 Pretend Play
Turn the play area into a pretend bakery, ice-cream parlour or candy store.
Children can take turns being the shopkeeper and customer, creating opportunities for imaginative play and communication.
👨👩👧 A Great Parent-Child Activity
Sensory play doesn't have to mean children playing alone.
Parents can sit beside their children and create something together. You could build an imaginary dessert shop, design a colourful candy landscape or challenge each other to make the most creative ice cream.
The Children's Lab specifically positions the kit as an opportunity for family bonding, alongside benefits such as screen-free play and sensory exploration. (THE CHILDRENS LAB)
Sometimes, the most valuable part of an activity isn't the finished creation—it's the conversation and interaction that happens while making it.
🌿 Designed With Sensory Play in Mind
The product page describes the dough as chemical-free, reusable and made in small batches, while also noting that slight variations are natural because of the handmade process. (THE CHILDRENS LAB)
The dough is described as taste-safe, but not intended for consumption, and adult supervision is recommended for younger children. The product also contains wheat, so parents should consider this if their child has a gluten allergy or sensitivity. (THE CHILDRENS LAB)
🧺 How to Keep Your Dough Fresh
Proper storage can help extend the life of the playdough.
The Children's Lab recommends:
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Store the dough in an airtight container after play.
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Keep it somewhere cool and dry.
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Keep it away from direct sunlight and moisture.
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Use clean hands and a clean, dry play surface.
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Clean the cutters gently with warm, soapy water and dry them completely before storing. (THE CHILDRENS LAB)
If the dough starts becoming dry, the product instructions suggest kneading in a small amount of water to restore softness. (THE CHILDRENS LAB)
🍦 Turn an Ordinary Afternoon Into a Candy Adventure
The best children's activities don't necessarily need screens, complicated instructions or expensive equipment. Sometimes, colourful dough and a child's imagination are enough.
The Candy DoughLab Themed Kit combines sensory exploration with creative making, pretend play and simple learning activities. From practising hand movements to inventing an imaginary candy shop, children can explore the activity in countless ways.
If you're looking for a playful, hands-on activity that encourages children to create, imagine, learn and connect, the Candy DoughLab is a sweet place to start.
🍭 Ready for a Candy-Themed Adventure?
Discover the Candy DoughLab Themed Kit from The Children's Lab
