Why Play with Clay?

"We don't stop playing because we grow old,

we grow old because we stop playing"

George Bernard Shaw

     This month we have talked about some of the therapeutic benefits of coloring for anyone from a toddler to the elderly with dementia.  Did you know that some of those same benefits can be found when using modeling clay?  

Research shows that:

     Clay has a natural appeal, just like water and sand.  Clay is a wonderful tactile medium that can be very calming for both children and adults.  Manipulating the clay can be a physical outlet for conveying emotions and reducing stress. Working with clay builds self-esteem.  It is easy to work with giving a child a feeling of being in control as they pound, roll, shape, flatten, and tear.

Ella, age 7

     When a child has learned to express their personal vision in clay, they become empowered in ways that go beyond the art room and they feel a sense of accomplishment when a project is finished.

from artistree.com

More reasons to play:

-Clay naturally stimulates a child's curiosity.  It is so fascinating to the child that it motivates them to work for longer periods of time extending the attention span of some children.

-Working with clay improves dexterity and uses both small and large muscles  Children use their arms, back and shoulders to mold clay.  It also increases a child's eye-hand coordination.

-Children's imaginations are stimulated through the use of clay.  They stretch their minds to develop new ideas.

-A child that learns at an early age that anything that can be imagined can be created is more likely to be more creative and intelligent than a child that only plays with manufactured toys.

from examiner.com/article/the-benefits-of-working-with-clay-for-kids

Aubrey, age 10

Again, we find this information fascinating and we agree with every bit of it. We also agree with Albert Einstein who said:

"Play is the highest form of research"

 So we did some research of our own.  We asked six members of our team

 (ages 3 to 12) to answer this question:

What do YOU like about playing with clay?

Their responses were:

"Gasp! You can make fun shapes and it feels funny!"

"You can make almost anything you want with it"

"You can build people out of it"

"I like to put guys in it and cover them up!"

"I can use my imagination and make stuff"

"It's just....fun!"

So based on another scientific Young at Art study, we have determined that 

playing with clay benefits your mind, your body, and your soul

but mostly..... it's just plain FUN

and we highly recommend it!!

 parentinghealthybabies.com

(Coming Soon!! Young at art Book 2 and sculpture art bag!!)