“I’ve made a snowman”

Today we explored clay as a way of developing confidence in creating something unique and spontaneous. 

The children were provided with a chunk of clay each with a wide variety of natural and open ended resources and given the freedom to create. 

Initially some of the children were tentative, and immediately recognised how cold it was which seemed to take them by surprise. 

Some, however, enjoyed the anticipation that exploring a large portion of clay could bring. 

“It is very soft” a child announced as he pinched the clay between his finger tips. 

“It isn’t soft it is really hard, I can’t nearly roll mine!”

The exchange of observational language from the children was quite spontaneous and throughout the experimentation of the clay children’s language was minimal but relevant to their individual discoveries. 

“I’m making holes”

One of the children fully immersed himself in the experience and spent the entire morning session collecting self chosen resources that he used to create different patterns in his evolving creation. He knew where to find specific resources that he wanted to use and although the experience was intended to be open ended with no specific agenda, he obviously had his own that occupied his mind for an extended period of time. 

Providing freedom for children to explore making marks and challenging themselves to try new things develops an inner confidence that will ooze from them in other areas of their being. Understanding their own boundaries, pushing themselves to explore the unknown and try new ways of approaching things, opens their minds to a new way of thinking. 

The children’s fascination was evident as they created patterns using different types of resources. 

As the children manipulated and investigated more, they communicated less as they lost themselves in their own explorations and thought processes. Each child seemed to have their own agenda that was unravelling before them. It was clear to see the enjoyment of their evolving imaginations as they added their self chosen resources. 

“I have made a snowman”