Five reasons why clay play is perfect for kids

Playing with clay is a classic children’s activity. Who remembers spending hours shaping and crafting with Play Dough and plasticine?

While it may be considered a simple childhood activity, clay play offers many benefits for our little ones.

A workshop environment is a great way for children to enjoy pottery time, use their imagination, and develop essential skills. Here we outline five benefits playing with clay offers, many of which will leave a lasting impression on their lives.

Develops motor skills

Pinching, rolling, squishing, and squeezing clay uses the various muscles in the fingers, hands, wrists, and arms. Regular use of these muscles improves the strength and finesse needed to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. This is essential for the dexterity needed to grip and write.

Calming and therapeutic

Playing with clay has a soothing effect that helps relieve stress and anxiety. It’s also a great antidote to the time many children spend on electronic devices.

The smell of clay and paint, the sight with artwork, and the touch of clay are lovely ways to engage the senses. This is particularly beneficial if they have sensory issues or trouble concentrating for any length of time. It’s also a good physical outlet to express any issues, or even trauma, they may be going through.

Instils self-esteem

Just like adults, pottery is a great way to help kids boost their self-esteem and confidence. Whether hand-building, throwing on the wheel, or decorating pieces of pottery creating something unique using their hands is empowering and seeing the results instils a sense of pride and satisfaction.

A pottery workshop is the ideal way to give children a chance to absorb things at their own pace. This allows them self-discovery and growth; as a result, they’ll learn to trust their own judgement and become aware of their blossoming abilities.

Builds creativity

Exploring and acquiring ideas through the medium of clay is an ideal way to develop creativity. Being creative helps children better understand themselves. It’s a valuable form of self-expression, broadens the imagination, encourages different ways of thinking, and often results in overcoming challenges in innovative ways.

Creativity can also help express or manage emotions in a productive and positive way; particularly when feelings are difficult to put into words.

Learning in a safe setting

Our pottery workshops offer a safe and nurturing environment for children to learn without pressure or fear of failure. Playing with clay and learning how to create a something from scratch involves concentration, experimentation, patience, perseverance, and problem-solving. These are valuable skills that will set them in good stead in all areas of life.

See details and dates for our pottery workshops or get in touch to ask about arranging a session tailored for children.