Why Use Clay Modeling with Toddlers?
Over my 30 years teaching clay modeling to toddlers, I have witnessed how clay modeling play can be a powerful way to teach art, provide a sense of calm, and relieve stress. It’s also a multisensory approach to engaging children in learning. Here are just a few of the benefits of clay modeling. You can read more by ordering my book Clay Play.
Clay modeling for toddlers should be a playful and exploratory activity. Avoid directing toddlers to create specific forms too early. Instead, encourage them to investigate and enjoy the artistic process. Allow children to engage with clay in a process-based way, focusing on exploration and creativity. Over time, you can introduce key lessons in form-building to enhance their clay modeling skills.
Clay Modeling Benefits
Clay modeling benefits for toddlers might surprise you. This type of activity is excellent for children’s development. I recommend that all toddlers have opportunities to work with clay at home and in school. Toddlers who work with clay have a better chance of building muscles. Here are some of the amazing clay modeling benefits for toddler children:
- Strengthens motor skills – Builds those little finger, hand, and arm muscles.
- Improves coordination – Sharpens dexterity and eye-hand coordination.
- Encourages sensory play – The earthy texture and squishy feel make clay ideal for tactile exploration.
- Process-based learning – There’s no right or wrong way to explore clay. It’s all about discovery and experimentation.
- Sparks creativity – Allows children to express themselves in imaginative and unique ways.
- Supports cognitive growth – Encourages problem-solving, pattern-making, and learning 3D forms.
- Builds art vocabulary – Kids learn action words like pinch, roll, or squeeze, as well as art elements like shape, form, and texture.
- How Clay Modeling can Reduce Stress – Sensory tactile sensations are wired to the brain, promoting focus and relaxation.
Clay modeling can truly be sensorial learning! If you would like to learn how children cognitively develop fine motor skills, read my book The Way Children Make Art.
Preparing Easy Clay Activities
Getting started with clay is simple and fun! Here’s how to make it stress-free and engaging:
- Pick the right clay – Use soft, non-toxic options like Crayola air-dry clay, modeling plasticine, or natural terracotta pottery clay.
- Keep it simple – Offer small, fist-sized pieces perfect for little hands.
- Set up properly – Use large tiles, trays, or a child-sized table.
- Containers – Place clay inside containers for proper storage.
- Prepare invitations to play – Stage a neat tray with simple tools and a small amount of clay to spark curiosity.
Safe Clay Play
Toddlers can start exploring clay once they’ve moved past the mouthing stage. Keep these key points in mind:
- Use only safe non-toxic clays
- Use safe clay tools
- Always supervise
- Make homade clay for children putting thigs still in their mouth
- Use lare items children can’t choke on.
Clay Play Movements
I recommend focusing on these movements first:
- Pinching the clay between their fingers to strengthen their grip.
- Pulling or stretching small pieces of clay to explore its elasticity.
- Squishing the clay into flat shapes with their palms or fingertips.
- Poking the clay with one finger to make divots and fun designs.
- Pressing both hands down onto the clay to experience its texture.
- Tearing bits of clay into smaller pieces to develop hand coordination.
- Rolling the clay between their hands to form simple shapes like balls or snake-like coils.
- Flattening the clay by patting it with an open hand.
- Sticking small objects like twigs, pebbles, or leaves into the clay for added sensory fun.
- Squeezing the clay tightly to feel its softness and resistance.
These movements allow toddlers to explore the tactile qualities of clay in a relaxed and stress-free way while promoting developmental skills.
Make Clay Forms
- Balls (Spheres) – Rolling a small piece of clay into a round ball is an easy and fun activity.
- Snakes (Coils) – Stretching and rolling clay into long coils helps develop fine motor skills.
- Pancakes (Flat Slabs) – Flattening pieces of clay with their hands to create smooth, thin shapes.
- Pinch Pots – Gently pinching a ball of clay into a bowl-like shape.
- Rocks or Pebbles – Squishing clay into small, irregular shapes to resemble rocks.
- Noodles – Rolling very thin, long pieces of clay for fun sensory play.
- Blobs – Simply squishing clay into undefined, playful shapes.
- Cubes – Pressing clay into square shapes with hands or gentle tools.
- Towers – Stacking small clay pieces on top of each other to create simple structures.
- Impressions – Pressing objects like fingers, toys, or leaves into clay to create patterns.
- Cookie Cutters – Use cookie cutters to press into clay and make shapes and forms.
Each of these forms is easy for little hands to create and allows for exploration, sensory play, and creative expression! Check out my curriculum for teaching foundational forms.
Simple Clay Projects
Once your students have worked through the basic forms, try these clay modeling activities. They should be prepared for these after a year of playing with clay and key lessons.
- Nature Collage – Press leaves, seed pods, pine cones, or shells to create natural textures.
- Pinch Pots – Teach them to pinch a small piece of clay into a tiny bowl.
- Nature Sculptures – Stick twigs, stones, or dried flowers into clay to create abstract sculptures.
- Animal Sculptures – Make simple forms like snakes, snails, or birds.
- Handprints – Capture little hand or footprint keepsakes.
- Cookie Cutter Shapes – Create stars, circles, or fun shapes with cookie cutters.
- Letters – Play with making words and letters in clay.
- Fossil Impressions – Press objects like shells, leaves, or even toy dinosaurs into clay.
Clay Modeling Tools and Materials
Start with a variety of accessible tools and materials:
- Child-sized tools – Rolling pins, blunt knives, craft sticks, and sculpting tools.
- Natural items – Leaves, twigs, pebbles, dried flowers, and bark for added textures.
- Embellishments – Beads, glass beads, toys.
- Animal Prints – Press animals’ feet into clay to make impressions.
- Recycled objects – Bottle caps, jar lids, cookie cutters, or textured fabric for unique patterns.
- Simple storage – Use child-friendly containers to keep clay fresh and accessible.
Montessori Principles for Clay Play
Clay activities align beautifully with Montessori values:
- Child-led exploration – Allow flexibility and freedom in how children choose materials and approach clay.
- Observe their interests – Pay attention to what captures their curiosity to guide future activities.
- Grace and courtesy – Include cleanup as an essential part of clay play. Teach children how to return trays and tools to their spots, ensuring the workspace is ready for the next use.
- Respect time and focus – Create uninterrupted blocks of time for children to experiment freely. Practical life skills like organizing and cleaning are seamlessly built into this process.
How to Observation Clay Play
Be actively observant during clay play. Reflect on how children engage with the material:
- Are your materials staged for easy access?
- Do you have trays with prompts encourage creativity?
- Do your students know how to start exploring with clay?
- Are they attracted to a specific tool?
- Do they seem frustrated or curious?
- Are they starting to build confidence as they explore more with clay?
Common Clay Instruction Challenges
Not all children enjoy handling clay right away. Some may feel uncomfortable with its cold or wet texture. Here’s how to gently introduce them to clay:
- Offer alternative tactile experiences, like soft modeling clay or tools that allow indirect contact.
- If they’re resistant, rotate to a different medium and try clay again in a few months. Give them time to build comfort.
If you would like to learn more, read Clay Play or order the comprehensive Clay Modeling Curriculum with 29 lessons teaching all the foundational skills!
Spramani Elaun is the author of Clay Play and Clay modeling curriculum.
