In an effort to keep the three and half year old happy and out of trouble while I attempt to accomplish some tasks, I often set him down at the kitchen table with something distracting a creative activity. His favorite distraction is playdough.

I used to give him one or two containers of play-doh and urge him to keep the colors separate so we can return them to their proper containers. I know. I’m an anal retentive control freak. Then I said to hell with it and let him do whatever he wanted. It’s his playdough. He’s three, what the hell will it hurt for him to mash it all together into one big colorful lump? Nothing, I tell ya.

As you can see, I also give the kids cookie cutters. Along with the cookie cutters, the kids use a small rolling pin and plastic spoons, forks, and knives.

Demolition Preschooler, here, likes to pretend the playdough is a station for his rocket ship—which is actually a fish, but never mind the details.

And, no, you did not just hear him say “sexy” at the beginning of that video. What do you think we are teaching him?

If you listen very carefully you can hear the gentle hum of the dishwasher and the clothes dryer in the background. A constant soundtrack to my life.

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