The Simplicity Of Clay

When I think of children working with clay I often consider their individual experience with play dough. Both clay and play dough have similarities as they're flexible materials which can be manipulated and formed into many shapes, then broken down in order to be manipulated over and over again. There is no right or wrong when working with both materials as children enjoy the overall sensory experience when working with their hands.

Often the stand out different between clay and play dough is the outcome of each material over time. Play dough is wonderful when freshly made and the warm is just inviting as the colour invented by the educators. With some imagination, the addition of fresh herbs or n atural oils takes the experience to the next level. Over time play dough starts to loose it's magic as it starts to dry out. At this point you're saying 'so does clay' but with play dough its more 'wear n tear' from many hands involved in the process over than something to do with air.

Clay does dry out but not because too many children are using the same piece but often the child is stuck on what to make. They make comments like 'I want to make this or that but it's too hard' or 'I need more clay' because a larger amount generates bigger the ideas. With play dough they often follow what the child next to them is making, or using resources which provided limited outcomes.

With clay you have to start slowly, ever so slowly, to form a relationship with a materials which has been in relationship with Mother Nature. This materials is earthy, raw, natural, and responds to the temperature which is located in the palm and fingers of the child.

The child needs to form a relationship with the clay, if they don't then the clay will start to dry out like play dough. When the child builds the relationship they are feeling a sense of comfort with the material which is an open invitation to manipulate the clay into formations.

Invite the child to consider how they would create a mirror image of themselves out of clay. Breaking down the sections which forms a body shape, whilst taking into consideration where our strength rises from and how we use our limbs to support ourselves. Using shapes breaks down the process even further as the child makes a ball and coils to represent head, arms and legs.

Play dough is a material which bonds in formation but will collapse due to weight ratio, but with clay there is slurry. Not only are children drawn to this mud like texture but the mixture allows the joining of clay pieces and improves the strength of the body.

Suddenly the legs act as the foundation for the 'mini me' then the body starts to take on it's own identity, with the addition of a head and arms. No one cares that everything is going to be out of proposition but they have created themselves. If this was play dough it would have surrender to the weight of the world or broken down for another child to use.

The child is now completely engaged in the experience as they have not only formed a relationship with the clay they have discovered something more about themselves. They had to consider how long their legs were. Was it true that both arms are the same length and curious to know if their head was the size of a pea or something bigger. They had to look closer at themselves in order to manipulate the clay..

When the child has finished they are allowed to let the clay dry out and if your service has access to a kilm, then they get to have a long lasting impression of themselves. You can put play dough in the oven but the result of clay surrendering to the heat is a transformation worth keeping.