Importance and benefits of clay play on kids

When you think about clay, you do not consider writing. Yet, the importance of clay is deeply rooted in strengthening finger muscles used for proper grip and pencil holding. Clay is also one of the craft materials meant for children to express their thoughts tangibly and thoughtfully without using verbal abilities they might possess. The best part about clay is you can use them in a two-or-three-dimensional manner.

It is one of the tools that kids need to use during their early childhood days. While playing clay games, children develop skills like language development, problem-solving, fine, and gross motor development, social skills, mathematical concepts, and praxis development. Use of clay on infants and toddlers enables the discovery of body awareness. Clay is also natural. Most of the companies use less than desirable ingredients where you need not worry about the toxins.

When it comes to clay set up, it is best to allow children to explore the entire block of clay. You could use the canvas mat as it will not stick and makes the cleanup process easy. Clay is exciting yet compelling. If you want quick motor development, encourage your kids to use their hands while playing with clay.

Once you become confident and interested in the regular clay, you can add wooden clay tools, a little bowl of water, and other natural elements like pinecones and leaves.

Benefits

There are several benefits to using clay for kids. Some of them are good memory skills along with emotional and mental development through self-expression. Clay moulding is fun for creating something, and playing makes beliefs.

The other benefits include:

Motor skills

The touch and feel of clay offer a natural relaxing sensation. This quality lets kids press, squeeze, and poke it. They can also reshape the clay as they want. Children can also explore their talent, strengthening their motor skills, and enjoy the activity.

Problem-solving skills

Clay helps children understand three-dimensional aspects of this world. Working with clay helps the kid develop the ability to adapt to changes as they need to work around the clay amongst the craft materials. Their problem-solving aspects are explored when the child decides how far they can take the clay for creating a shape before they break and fall. The child should understand the visuals of the final product.

Therapy

Clay is a tactile medium that has a calming effect on the kid and adults. The reshaping of the clay is a healthy outlet of emotion.

Boost self-esteem

If you want to create something from scratch, it is something to be proud of. Reshaping is simple with clay as it is a material that is easy to mould. Playing with clay and moulding, it helps develop a sense of control amidst kids. Once they reshape it successfully, they get an accomplished feeling.