Modeling Clay vs Playdough – Best for Little Artists

Both modeling clay and playdough are adored by children and cherished by educators and parents. But what sets them apart? Which is best for our little artists?

Understanding the Basics

Both modeling clay and playdough are soft and moldable, and children use them to make crafts. To understand their differences, we need to know their basic ingredients, i.e., what are they?

What is Modeling Clay?

If you have come into contact with modeling clay, you will find that it is a kind of harder toy, and there are many types. Common ones are plasticine, polymer clay and air dry clay, and their ingredients are actually different.

Types	Main Ingredients	Use
Polymer Clay (Oil Based Clay)	PVC + Oil	- Requires oven drying - Suitable for teenagers 12+ and above
Air Dry Clay	PVA + Water	- Can dry naturally - Perfect for kids 5+ or crafters - Make small and delicate miniature crafts
Pottery Clay	Kaolin	- Requires kiln high temperature drying - Suitable for professional sculpture art students - Making larger and more complex statues
Paper Clay	Wood Fiber	- Can be air dried - Suitable for children aged 3+ to make simple crafts

What is Playdough?

Playdough has a history of more than a hundred years. After countless improvements, it is still a must-have toy for childhood.

Unlike modeling clay, the ingredients of playdough are simple and can even be found in the kitchen. For example, common wheat flour and water are edible and safe materials. Sometimes, we also use gluten-free corn and rice flour, which are friendly to children with celiac disease.

Key Differences Between Modeling Clay and Playdough

We can find the differences between clay and playdough from the basic ingredients mentioned above, even though they look similar.

	Modeling Clay	Playdough
Main Ingredients	Kaolin/Minerals Soil/PVA/PVC/Wood Fiber, etc.	Wheat flour or Gluten-free: Rice flour/Corn flour
Texture	Soft but becomes hard after drying	Always soft
Drying Method	All except air-dry clay require baking.	Never dries out
Reuse	×	√
Skills Requirement	Requires certain crafting skills	None
Ages	6+	3+
Use	Used to create exquisite sculptures and crafts	Early Childhood Education
Toys and Tool Sets	Professional carving/cutting or shaping tools, small quantities	There are more themed sets, such as Noodle maker, Ice cream maker, etc. >> Top 5 Playdough Sets

Benefits for Little Artists

Clay and play dough are sensory toys that are not only fun for kids, but they also foster creativity and improve motor skills.

Enhancing Creativity and Imagination
Improving Fine Motor Skills
Educational Benefits: Learning Through Play

Types of Clay For Kids

As mentioned earlier, there are many types of modeling clay, some of which are suitable for children, but some are not.

lightweight clay

This is a type of air dry clay that is so light that you can hardly feel its weight. Another feature of it is that it is soft, making it easy for children to shape.

Air dry clay can dry at room temperature, so it is convenient and safe for children.

paper clay

Like its name, this clay feels like paper, even though it is made of wood fiber.

When paper clay dries, it will also become a little brittle, just like wet paper dries. However, you can color this craft, and the special texture of paper clay will make the work unique.

polymer clay

Because it contains oil in its composition, it is sometimes called oil-based clay. Polymer clay cannot be dried at room temperature, but we don’t need to put it in a kiln. You can dry it in the oven in your kitchen.

Before air dry clay, polymer clay was popular, but the high-temperature baking process may produce harmful substances. At present, people have gradually eliminated this kind of clay.

A Safer Choice: Gluten-free Playdough

There are children in the world who have celiac disease and are allergic to wheat and gluten. Therefore, it is best for them to avoid playdough, even though it does not contain toxic ingredients.

Gluten-free playdough is made specifically for these children, and its main ingredient is not wheat flour, but rice flour or corn flour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is play dough the same as modeling clay?

No, modeling clay is different from playdough. First of all, the ingredients. Modeling clay is usually made of inedible materials, including kaolin, polymers or minerals. Playdough is made of common wheat flour.

In terms of drying methods, modeling clay can be divided into high-temperature baking and room-temperature air drying according to different types. Playdough will never dry out. Even if it sometimes becomes hard, it will become soft again as long as it is sprayed with water.

Is it safe for babies to play with Play Doh or clay?

No, clay is not edible and should not be given to babies! Besides, although the ingredients of playdough are edible, it still poses a choking risk for infants. So, whether it is play-doh or clay, children should not be allowed to put it in their mouths.

Is there any type of clay that doesn't need to be baked?

Yes, air-dry clay such as lightweight clay and paper clay do not need to be baked. It can dry and harden naturally at room temperature, so this kind of clay is convenient and safe.

Is clay better than Play-Doh?

Clay and playdough have different players, so there is no one better than the other. Clay is better when you need to make exquisite and complex crafts. Playdough is a good educational toy when children are just beginning to contact and understand the world.

Is Play-Doh harmful for children?

Playdough is a great sensory and educational toy. Many educational scholars believe that children can develop cognitive and hands-on skills by kneading dough.

On the other hand, the ingredients of playdough are edible wheat flour or other gluten-free flour, which is very safe and friendly for children. There is no safer toy than one made of food. Of course, parents still need to prevent them from putting the toy into their mouths.