Build a Monster with Play Dough [free printable game for kids]

Build a Monster with Play Dough

Play dough monsters galore! As you know, play dough and the ‘monster theme’ go so well together, it’s a classic combination. The possibility to create sweet/strange/ingenious/cute/scary creatures are endless. This little ‘Build a Monster with Play Dough’ game is a fun & easy way to spend play time in the afternoon and to spark the child’s imagination.

What do you need?

Essentially you need a ‘monster body’ from dough and a good number of ‘monster parts’ that will be used as eyes, mouth, hair/horns, tail, hands and feet. For the monster body you can use home made playdough, commercial Play-Doh or natural clay, the choice is yours.

Roll-a-monster game for kids, using a printable monster die. Play again and again!

To play the game you’ll also need ‘monster parts’. Just have a look around the house (the crafts corner, stationary, kitchen, ..) for small bits ‘n bobs. I used beads, paper clips, pipe cleaners, mini pegs, googly eyes, pieces of felt (for the teeth), buttons, mini pasta pieces, paper straws and paper fasteners. Wooden ice pop stocks, wooden cocktail stirrers, marbles, foam stickers, pebbles are also suitable. In any case, keep an eye on the kids. Monster parts are not to be eaten! Unless you make a complete edible version. Now there’s a thought – I’ll keep that in mind for another day..!

It goes without saying that you can also make the monster parts.. with more play dough! Make monster spaghetti hair, big floppy feet, long tangled arms, pointy spikes on the tail.. This option is perfect for kids in elementary school, improving their fine motor skills and sculpting.

And of course you’ll need the paper die with the monster parts. You’ll find it below.

How to play?

1. Give each player a generous piece of play dough. Shape the dough into a monster body. I noticed that most preschoolers prefer to work with flat shapes that they place on the table.
2. Provide the monster parts (examples above), preferably in small trays, such that ‘look-alike’ items are together. No scientific backup, but I just find it easier this way. Too much choice of too many items is just confusing for a child. Oh, and it’s easier to clean up afterwards!
3. Roll the die and place the monster part on the monster body. That’s an abstract way of saying: “when you roll the eyes, put an eye on the monster”. This is how you play the ‘Build a Monster with Play Dough”! Easy as pie.

You can play as long as you wish, creating simple to ingeniously complex monsters. Just decide when to stop. Or ask the child if he/she is happy with the monster and finish at that time.

Or, for the older kids (in elementary school): play until you have finished complete play dough monsters:
(i) eyes
(ii) mouth
(iii) hair ot horns
(iv) arms
(v) legs
(vi) tail

This requires a bit more thinking. It doesn’t matter if the monster has 7 eyes and 2 tails (Hey, it’s a monster!), but the first player to have all 6 components wins the game.

Download your free printable game

So, here it is, the Play Dough monster game! Simply download, print and fold the die. The die is designed such that you don’t need glue. This means you can unfold it after use. Now that’s a nifty space saving trick (small as it is). Think about packing it when you go on holidays. With only a few items you’ll pack a whole game!

Download your free copy of the ‘Build a Monster with Play Dough’ game:

More Monster Fun!

You may have noticed, but there’s a ‘draw-a-monster game‘ that uses the same monster die. The only difference is that it’s a drawing game. So instead of using physical objects to make monsters, you can use monster drawing sheets and draw monster parts. It’s simply another way to spend quality time with your kids while being creative!

Need more monsters in your life?

Nope. But perhaps your kids do. Try this monster marble game or the monster drawing game!

More screen-free games & activities

Check out these art & crafts ideas and play ideas. Bookmark them in case of a rainy day with restless kids! Oh, and pen and paper games! It takes minutes to learn for hours of fun!

Free travel games for kids!

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