Why Clay for children?

Recently there has been an interest in clay:

WHY CLAY FOR CHILDREN?

Clay is a strong expressive medium and is ideal for enhancing children’s development and holistic learning.

Working with clay improves dexterity and uses both small and large muscles.

Children’s imaginations are stimulated through the use of clay as they stretch their minds to develop new ideas for things to make and new ways of using the clay and tools.

Clay enables children to produce lasting pieces.  

With clay, children are able to make large, firm, complex structures as well as intricate pieces with detail.

Prahana and Sophie used an assortment of collage materials to add to their clay creations.

  

EYLDF:  Wellbeing.  Children manipulate equipment and manage tools with increasing competence

   

Being subject to gravity, clay structures often collapse. Educators show children as well as peers assisting each other how to join pieces firmly and to avoid making things to thin and flat as these pieces may crumble when dried.

Over the following weeks we will further explore “clay techniques” as children become familiar with using this medium.

We have set up an area where clay creations are put on display for others to admire and get ideas from.

Reference: Rapunzels Supermarket: Ursula Kolbe