DIY eyeballs for our play dough spiders

I just fell in love with these DIY eyeballs when I first saw them and had to make a set of my own to add to our play dough collection of activities to explore…

To make the eyeballs, I hot glued googly eyes on socket covers then set the eyeballs out with play dough and pipe cleaners so the children could make spiders…

The children used the DIY eyeballs like you would Mr. Potato Head toys…

The children used the pieces to stick into their playdough balls…

We had all kinds of amazing spiders being created with the DIY eyeballs and spider legs…

Super simple to put together and lots of opportunity for creative and imaginative playdough play…

Available on Amazon

By Deborah Stewart|2012-10-28T14:00:05-04:00October 28th, 2012|

About the Author: Deborah Stewart

Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed. has been working and teaching in the field of early childhood education for over 30 years. Deborah currently owns and teaches in her own part-time, private preschool called The Children’s Studio. Deborah’s deep passion for teaching and working with young children is documented and then graciously shared with millions of readers around the world through her blog and other social networking communities. Deborah believes that young children learn best through play and exploration and embraces this belief in all that she does in her own classroom so that she can effectively and passionately share rewarding, real- life, tried-and-true practices with other teachers, parents, and leaders across the field of early childhood education.

14 Comments

Amanda October 28, 2012 at 7:21 pm - Reply

That is such a cute idea!! Do you let them take it home or is it just an activity at prek and you take it apart later?!
I love following you!
- Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed. October 28, 2012 at 9:28 pm - Reply
  
  We just use the DIY eyeballs in the classroom for play and after they play, we put everything away for another day. They don’t take the spiders home:)
- Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed. October 28, 2012 at 9:30 pm - Reply
  
  Hi Amanda,
  After the children play with the eyes and the playdough, we take everything apart and put it back into our playdough drawers for another day. They don’t take the spiders home:)
andie jaye October 29, 2012 at 12:17 am - Reply

oh! we’ve gotta do this. i’ve got a huge bag of these things!
Jen October 29, 2012 at 6:06 am - Reply

So clever! 🙂
Mud Hut Mama October 29, 2012 at 7:47 am - Reply

These are way too cute – my girls would love them!!
maryanne @ mama smiles October 29, 2012 at 11:04 am - Reply

This is brilliant! What an excellent use for old socket covers! Pinned it to my preschool learning board 🙂
- Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed. October 29, 2012 at 3:53 pm - Reply
  
  Thanks for the pin Maryanne:)
Stacey October 29, 2012 at 1:06 pm - Reply

What a great idea! I have a ton of these and just threw away a few- well, not anymore! My kids would love this!
I just got a safety can opener from Target so I can start collecting tin can pieces for your “Robots” idea- can’t wait to get started on that too!
- Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed. October 29, 2012 at 3:51 pm - Reply
  
  You are going to be super busy! I love the robots – be sure to use good magnets for them!
Cathie October 29, 2012 at 5:02 pm - Reply

Love the eye idea. Thanks for sharing.

Come visit me @toddlersthroughpreschool.com

Cathie J
School Sparks Renee October 29, 2012 at 5:39 pm - Reply

Adorable – and inexpensive! Great idea and sure to be a hit with kids. Renee
Gloria Galdamez October 31, 2012 at 8:25 pm - Reply

Hola Debora, cada idea es mejor que la otra, aveces no se cual de todas quiero exponerle a los peques, todas son excelentes ,los chicos ya ni se diga curiosos todos los dias por saber que vamos hacer , la idea de hoy dia es jeniallll.
- Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed. October 31, 2012 at 10:59 pm - Reply
  
  Thank you so for such a kind comment Gloria! I hope you are having a wonderful school year:)
  
  Deborah