News Details

May 2025

It’s one of the simplest tools teachers of young children have at their disposal: Play-Doh. And you’d likely be surprised at the impact it has on learning for students at Wayne Township Preschool.

“Young children learn best by doing—by touching, exploring, building, and experimenting,” said Jenna Rieff, developmental preschool teacher at Wayne Township Preschool. “For children with sensory processing differences, hands-on learning provides controlled, purposeful exposure to a variety of sensory inputs.”

Jenna tells us that Play-Doh is a nearly perfect medium for the type of hands-on learning that children with sensory processing differences need. Funding she received this school year from the Wayne Township Education Foundation and DonorsChoose helped her purchase more Play-Doh for her classroom. Playing with the squishy, colorful substance is helping prepare her students for more other challenges they will soon be faced with.

“Many of my students benefit from hands-on, tactile experiences to build strength and coordination in their fingers and hands,” Jenna said. “Those are foundational skills for tasks like writing, cutting, and self-help activities.”

Besides that - Play-Doh is fun!

“My students use Play-Doh in so many creative and purposeful ways,” Jenna said. “Some children let their imaginations run wild, sculpting their own creations and telling stories through their play. Others enjoy the sensory and repetitive motion of using tools like rollers and cookie cutters, which also help build fine motor skills.”

Jenna wants supporters of the Wayne Township Education Foundation to know that WTEF funding makes a difference.

“In my case, the grant made it possible to provide fresh Play-Doh and related tools that are essential for hands-on, sensory-based learning in my developmental preschool classroom. These kinds of materials help meet the unique needs of my students and make learning more engaging, accessible, and fun.

“Grants empower teachers to be creative, responsive, and resourceful in how we support our students—and that makes a big difference in the classroom every day.”

ABOUT THE WAYNE TOWNSHIP EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The Wayne Township Education Foundation (WTEF) provides community leadership to enrich, engage, and stimulate teaching and learning in the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township. WTEF accomplishes this by supporting school programs and resources, while recognizing excellence among students and staff. To learn more about WTEF and/or establishing a named, designated fund, call 317-988-7966, visit wtef.wayne.k12.in.us, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter @WayneTwpEdFound.