“The wider the range of possibilities we offer children, the more intense will be their motivations and the richer their experiences” Loris Malaguzzi
For young children to develop an understanding about form and shape and how to represent an idea or an object three-dimensionally clay is a great medium.
Working with children and clay offering tools such as rolling pins and spatulas often evoke ideas about flattening, cutting and cooking. Whilst these are valid ideas it is important to ask yourself ” How can I extend our children’s strategies to explore this medium to its full potential? How can I encourage our children to utilise its three-dimensional possibilities and to create their ideas in a more sculptural way?”
So inviting our children to use their hands allows them to explore this natural medium through their senses encourages them to come up with authentic ideas as they discover ways to create shapes by rolling, pinching, twisting, turning and attaching.
They learn to openly explore the various forms, textures, thicknesses, shapes and sizes, questioning and testing the various anatomy of clay as they challenge and extend their thinking.