Part of the Nature Hub Collection – where curiosity about animals, ecosystems, and the environment comes to life through hands-on discovery.
 
Unlock the power of play-based learning with our Dough It Yourself printable mats — designed to inspire creativity, strengthen fine motor skills, and support early developmental milestones.
 
Through the simple act of rolling, pressing, pinching, and shaping playdough, children build essential muscle control and hand-eye coordination while engaging their senses and imaginations. These mats are ideal for developing pre-writing skills, vocabulary, spatial awareness, and creative thinking — all through joyful, hands-on play.
 
As children explore this Australian Reptiles-themed Dough It Yourself playdough mat set, they are encouraged to connect with Australia's fascinating native animals. 
 
From curling long snakes to shaping textured crocodile tails or designing their own scaly lizard, each mat provides an opportunity to move beyond fine motor play into deep thinking, observation, and inquiry.
 
This pack includes 7 learning provocations to spark meaningful conversations about reptile features, behaviours, and habitats. Educators can use them to guide open-ended learning and critical thinking — inviting children to explore topics like camouflage, environmental care, and life cycles through sensory-based investigation.
 
Also included are 4 'Finish Me' playdough mats, which present partially completed reptiles (such as a frog, snake, crocodile, and blue-tongue lizard) for children to observe and finish. These support symmetry, creative interpretation, and problem-solving, encouraging children to look closely, predict, and complete the image using playdough. These open-ended tasks promote fine motor refinement while fostering imagination and design thinking.
 
As children interact with each mat, they naturally engage in discussion, imagination, and observation — prompting deeper thinking about the natural world. Educators can use each design as a springboard for curiosity-led learning: “How does a lizard use its tail?”, “Where would this reptile hide?”, “What do snakes eat?”, or “Why does this animal have scales?” These moments support children in building knowledge through play, while fostering empathy and respect for Australian wildlife.
 
This process transforms simple play into meaningful, intentional learning that supports both individual thinking and group dialogue. The mats are more than just creative — they’re powerful tools for inquiry-based education.
 
Each set is crafted to suit a range of early childhood settings including:
Early learning centres
Preschool and kindergarten classrooms
Occupational therapy sessions
Home learning environments
 
Whether you're exploring animals, letters, numbers, or cultural celebrations, our mats encourage open-ended exploration with purpose.
Designed to strengthen pencil grip and fine motor control
Promotes language development through themed conversation
Encourages creative expression and imagination
Easy to print, laminate, and reuse again and again
 
 
Nature Hub
Why?
This hub is designed for exploration of the natural world — including animals, habitats, ecosystems, and environmental awareness. The Australian reptiles theme aligns perfectly with:
Inquiry-based learning about local wildlife
Sensory and fine motor exploration of animal features (scales, shapes, textures)
Discussions about ecosystems, adaptations, and biodiversity
Supporting understanding of Science, Geography, and Sustainability concepts in a play-based way