Why Kids Should Play With Clay

The first time a child plays with clay, their face lights up as they squishes, shapes, pinches, rolls, and pulls the clay to their whims. It is a magical moment and one that should be encouraged because it helps kids develop both their fine motor skills as well as their sense of spatial awareness.

Pottery is a fun and creative art form that can be created using slabs of clay, wheel throwing techniques or coil pottery. Coil pottery is a method whereby clay is shaped into its final form by wrapping a clay coil around itself and then adding more coils to the piece to increase its size. This pottery can be glazed and then fired in a kiln to make it permanent.

The kiln firing process changes the chemical makeup of the clay and hardens it, making it durable. It can be glazed with different colors and patterns to create unique pieces of pottery. Pottery is often made by hand or machine, although some people still use the ancient technique of jiggering and pressing to make their pieces.

Studies have found that when people make art, they experience a sense of relaxation and stress relief. This is because the tactile nature of clay and the meditative actions of shaping it, help to reduce their stress levels by taking them away into a world of creativity. The physical action of forming clay also strengthens the muscles of the hands and wrists, which can be beneficial for those with arthritis in these areas.