How to make crafts from clay step by step

How to make crafts from clay step by step

Plasticine molding is an exciting activity that can be useful for a child. Teaching the baby to make crafts from clay in stages, you will not only contribute to the development of imagination, but also improve fine motor skills.

Children's crafts made of clay

The material we call clay was invented more than a hundred years ago by an art teacher. It was W. Harbutt. The purpose of his invention was originally to get mass for model manufacturers. Many experiments were carried out, resulting in a product similar to clay.

The children of the teacher liked the mass, which does not freeze, and many adult artists paid attention to it. Clay inspired the children, and they began to make from it a variety of figures from animals to ships.

William did not dare to use his invention as a teaching tool. And the children pushed him to the idea of selling, and even then the material got its name – plasticine. Since then, plasticine has been popular all over the world. And they use it not only to help make simple crafts from clay to children, but also in engineering, art and architectural fields.

Crafts of clay in stages for beginners

When do children's crafts usually start to be made of clay? Most often, this activity begins from the age of two, however, experts believe that sculpting can be started from the year. The first classes should not last more than fifteen minutes.

For the first children's crafts of clay it is desirable to pick up the softest material. We'll talk about its varieties below. The approach to the class can be found, based on the age of the child. For example:

1. The first thing you can do is give your baby plasticine to get to know him. Allow the child to dent it, pluck it, make small tortillas with which you can supplement the craft or the picture drawn. It can be white snowflakes or red apples.
2. At the age of one and a half years, all the upcoming crafts made of clay gradually complicate. Classes continue to be held in a playful way, and the material itself is used for smearing pictures, rolling balls, ovals.
3. Starting from the age of two, children can begin to be taught how to make other essentials. Here it is necessary to take into account that it is still difficult for a child to work with two hands, but with constant practice coordination will be improved. During this period, you can show how sausages are made, droplets, from which you can form a fungus or a caterpillar. All the actions are shown by an adult, and the child follows him, so the baby will learn to add different textures and connect the elements. Try to make simple crafts from clay for beginners in the form of animals or fruits.
4. After three years, children begin to be curious about many things. Each craft of clay for children becomes something new, and they experiment more often, adding different details. It is important not to recapture creativity and not to impose your ideas. The sculpting can be present crafts of varying complexity from fruits, dishes to cakes, animals and towers. Pay attention not only to crafts made of clay, but also to individual instructions that are meaningful. It's sculpting on cardboard patterns, making numbers.
5. The choice of light crafts from clay for children between the ages of 4 and 5 is very diverse. Here you can make large panels, make figurines of fairy-tale characters, people, transport. Making any craft of clay in the future step-by-step instruction will no longer be required. The kid will learn the skills of correct transitions between colors and learn to make even cartoon characters.

From the age of 6, you may need crafts made of clay not only in kindergarten, but also in school. At this age, children already have sufficient skills in sculpting and can make a figurine with a large number of elements.

Crafts of clay for kids step by step

We talked about the selection of crafts according to age, now we will discuss what to do before making crafts from clay for kids. First of all, take care of a well-prepared workplace. The surface should be protected from being hit by clay. Notice the quality lighting.

After that, it is necessary to make sure that the upcoming crafts of clay for young children arouse interest. You can do this by preparing the following tools:

• A board for sculpting;
• Stacks with different shapes
• shapes for sculpting shapes;
• Wooden rods for the connection of items;
• Water tank;
• Patterns
• cardboard or a sheet with a pattern for plastering.

These are the main tools that will help to interest the child. By the way, making crafts from clay for beginner children, you can use a variety of improvised means for squeezing. Even caps from markers will be suitable.

As additional parts in the manufacture of children's crafts from clay with their own hands can be used:

• Buttons
• Rhine;
• Cereals
• Pasta;
• Natural materials (bumps or seeds);
• vatu.

Crafts from clay for children: photos of finished works

The next step is to choose clay. Today there are a lot of options and you need to choose them by photo taking into account the age and theme of the craft, from the clay that you have chosen for children. So, we choose the following qualities:

1. If you plan to work with kids it is better to use wax material. It almost does not need to crumple, easy to smear on paper. Perfect for step-by-step production of the first clay craft for the little ones.
2. For regular sculpting, use medium-hard material. It will keep the shape and parts made of it very easy to connect.
3. Children from 4 years old can be offered to use sculptural clay. You can create framed products from it.
4. A popular type of clay – ball or air. It does not stick to surfaces, does not stain clothes or hands. Children of any age will like it. The peculiarity of this material is that in the air it freezes and you can get an interesting toy.

Using one of them, you can make unique crafts from clay, and step-by-step photo will help not to make a mistake in the manufacture, if the work is carried out for the first time.

Instructions for making crafts from clay

Of course, at first the production of figurines in the baby will cause difficulties, but the pable mass for sculpting in any case will cause him interest. There are some tips to help make the process of making crafts from clay with children simple:

1. Before sculpting be sure to spend a small finger gymnastics. It will help simplify the upcoming activity and activate the right areas of the brain.
2. Teach your child to warm up the plasticine before work. So it will be easier to tear the pieces off it.
3. Try to mix colors. For this to happen, the material must be soft. Mixing takes place on the principle of colors. To one shade just add the second and knead until you get the desired result.
4. In the process of sculpting, try to use several methods of work. This can be a constructive method, when the proposed figurine is broken into elements, they are made and assembled as a designer. Or sculptural. This method is more difficult, because from the whole bar you have to form a whole figure.

It remains to add only that the combination of methods can give interesting results, but, as a rule, such crafts of clay independently children do not master. It will require adult help, time and practice.