Clay can be cut, pinched, rolled, squeezed, and moulded into different shapes. Its texture can be changed by adding water. It is an environmentally friendly resource as it can be reused and recycled when it is dry. 

Clay can be used to create long-lasting shapes.

Although clay is similar to playdough, the different texture, consistency, and smell means that your tamaiti | child can make different things. They can have different experiences when they work with clay compared to playdough.

Tips for using clay at home#

Clay needs to be soft for tamariki to work with and this means keeping it damp during the session.

Clay is best used on a hessian-covered table or board to stop it from sticking.

Roll the clay into soft ball-sized amounts and provide small dishes of water with a small piece of sponge on the table that can help tamariki keep their clay wet.

To store clay, cover it with a damp cloth and store in a plastic bag or an airtight container.

If the clay gets really hard, break it up with a hammer and soak it in water. Drain off extra water when the clay has softened. Turn the clay out onto a cloth and sit it on top of the newspaper. Leave it to dry to a manageable consistency before using again.

Your tamariki may enjoy being involved in the process of breaking up and re-wetting dry clay.

Clay can be bought from an art shop or potters’ suppliers. In some areas clay will be available from the natural environment.

Learning with clay#

Clay can help your tamaiti | child to:

• develop hand-eye coordination, manipulative skills, and muscular strength by squeezing, patting, pounding, poking, and pinching
• be creative and experience making 3-dimensional objects
• manipulate by moulding, rolling, cutting, and shaping
• make sense of form and structure by creating different shapes
• express feelings and ideas through their creations.

Support your tamaiti#

You can support your tamaiti by:

• allowing space and time to explore and experiment with textures and shapes
• providing clay regularly so they become familiar with it and develop their skills
• working the clay until it is soft enough for small hands to use
• role modelling different techniques such as coil building, pinch pots, and slab construction
• suggesting ways to mould and shape the clay, for example rolling, thumping, smoothing
• asking open ended questions to encourage your tamaiti to think and talk about their creations.