Here’s a fun Ten Apples Up On Top! themed playdough activity for kids. We used our apple scented playdough recipe and some wooden numbers to create this inviting counting and sensory activity for kids!

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The Preschool Book Club is back this week with creative activities for kids inspired by the story, Ten Apples Up On Top! Every other week we’ll all be sharing some fun activities for kids all based the book of the week. (Be sure to check out all my activities for kids inspired by children’s books!)

Ten Apples Up On Top! Playdough Activity for Kids

We are huge fans of all things Dr. Seuss, especially Ten Apples Up On Top! This story is such a great book for both toddlers and preschoolers. It’s a super silly story that kids love, it’s full of rhyming words, and it encourages children to practice counting throughout the story- definitely a book worth owning!

Previously we had created a counting felt set based on Ten Apples Up On Top! The kids had so much fun with it, I decided to make a similar version using playdough!

Materials for Playdough Activity

Red playdough (We used our apple scented playdough recipe.)
Small wooden numbers (We found ours at our local craft store and painted them green. But, you could also use small numbers like these magnetic wooden numbers, these foam numbers, or these number tiles.)
Personalized play piece made from your child’s photo (directions below)

How to Make your Child’s Personalized Play Piece

1. Take a photo of your child.

2. Print the photo out on white cardstock. You could also print it out on regular paper, the cardstock is just a bit sturdier. (I printed out a few sizes because I wasn’t sure which one I would like best.)

3. Cut out your child’s picture.

4. If you own or have access to a laminator, laminate your picture. If you don’t have one (like me), sandwich your picture between two pieces of contact paper. Cut out your child’s photo, and it’s ready for play!

Playing with the Playdough Activity

Place your red playdough, numbers, and your child’s picture out on a safe surface for play, and let your child have fun exploring!

When Theo first saw the activity he was so excited that he ran to get the Ten Apples Up On Top! book to reread before playing!

I taught Theo (my preschooler) how to use his hands to roll little apples. He had fun rolling out ten apples all by himself and placing them above his head. After he had made ten apples, he showed Lucy the number 10!

Theo also practiced counting to ten with the activity. He’d find one number at a time and stick it in the playdough as he counted.

Lucy also did some counting with the playdough. She liked sticking the numbers right in her apples.

I always love watching the kids play with hands-on activities. They always seem to come up with really creative ideas I wouldn’t have even thought of. We’ll definitely be pulling this activity out again throughout the week!