Fun things for children to play with

Okay, so I need to do a resource box for my course and I have been thinking back to when I was working in the centre before I moved and decided to focus on my studies.

We made playdough - but when it comes to storing it, don't make it, as it stinks. 
Here's how to make it:

2 Cups flour
2 Cups warm water
1 Cup salt
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon cream of tartar (to improve elasticity)
Food colouring (can be in the form of liquid, powder or unsweetened drink mix)

Mix the ingredients together and, sprinkling the table with flour, roll out and kneed the dough. Once it all comes together and all ingredients mix together, it's ready to play with.

Store it in an air-tight container or a plastic bag with all the air taken out of it, and store in a cool place (eg. the fridge.)

Outcomes:
They use their cognitive skills, learn their to use their fine motor skills, their imaginations and to manipulate objects.
The activity also encourages children to explore the many ways in which the children can manipulate and make the playdough into.

For story time I read from an Aboriginal book and then chose a picture the children can paint and had lots of colours.
Keeping in mind, though, not all children wanted to paint the picture and we in no way forced them to do so. Some wanted to paint flowers or something else, which was absolutely encouraged.
It just gave them the chance to interact.
While reading the story I asked them what they thought was happening next, what the animal was, and what colours were on the particular page we were on, and continued throughout the book.

Outcomes:
Cognitive - The children are using their minds to predict/guess what comes next, what animals are being displayed, the colours and the shapes;
Learning - The children are learning about the many animals, colours, shapes and events being undertaken in the book, and they're learning to paint it;
Fine Motor - They're using their fingers to paint;
Pincer Grip - They're learning how to hold their paintbrush to get the effect they desire.