Fun with Clay

Children absolutely love playing with clay – it is colorful, soft, changes shape and can get totally messy! But did you know that clay moulding is not just all about fun? There is a great amount of learning that takes place.

Here’s how:

1. Develops fine-motor skills

When children touch, pinch, shape, roll and mould the clay, their fingers get quite a workout. This develops their fine-motor skills and enhances their pincer grip.

2. Multi-sensory development

Children see different colors, take in the sweet smell of the clay, learn that the clay can be soft and mushy or hard and dry. This aids sensory development.

3. Imagination building

It is a dinosaur; it is a diamond! The more children play with clay, the more they tend to let loose and unleash their imagination and creativity. They learn to visualize and clay becomes their canvas. Over time, stories start evolving around the little pieces of art and that build their imagination many times over.

4. Problem – solving

Yes, that is right, problem – solving skills can be acquired at a toddler’s age and clay can surely help develop these. Clay enables children to think out of the box, use the shaping and moulding tools in a way to achieve their desired result. When a child is able to achieve what he/she sets out to, it boosts their self-confidence and self-esteem.

5. Introduction to Numbers & Letters

With a host of shapes and moulds available, a toddler can pick up letter and number recognition using clay. At a later stage, they can also learn to spell their names, recognize different shapes, co-relate objects to colors and much more.