Simple Clay Skills & Techniques to Teach Children

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Clay skills for children at How we Montessori tools to use

My children love to use clay. Mostly we do open-ended clay play, without any prompts or suggestions on what to make. Occasionally though I like to show the children a technique or make larger sculptures, or give them project ideas

I have lots of different resources for using clay with young children so I decided to make a list of the skills or techniques that we can teach children from around three years with clay, but perhaps from two with play-dough. 

Clay play techniques to teach children:

  • Squeeze
  • Press
  • Smooth
  • Flatten
  • Mould
  • Cut
  • Knead
  • Crumple
  • Straighten (roll out flat)
  • Crush
  • Tear
  • Wet
  • Pinch
  • Curl
  • Tie
  • Roll
  • Roll a snake
  • Roll a ball
  • Scratch details with tools
  • Add pieces to a sculpture - for example, add an arm or leg to a person
  • Snip with scissors

In Clay Play author Spramani Elaun lists techniques in two categories.

Simple Movement to Teach First:

  • Pinching
  • Squishing
  • Patting
  • Rolling Balls
  • Back and forth motions - rolling pin
  • Pressing
  • Poking
  • Tearing
  • Cutting & Slicing - wood modelling tool
  • Carving
  • Dig

Simple Forms to Teach Second:

  • Rope like coils - Snakes
  • Slab
  • Rounded and circular shapes
  • Mountain Peak
  • Cube
  • Cylinder
  • Pyramid/triangle
  • Tear Drop
  • Flat Pancake
  • Cookie Cutter Shapes.

We are using Creatistics Air Dry Ceramic Clay and Clay Tools c/o Modern Teaching Aids. This clay is smooth, easy to use with children and is air-drying. 

Clay techniques to teach children at How we Montessori

For our clay play, we like to use large tiles as a work surface and a small spray bottle to keep the clay moist. 

Clay techniques to teach children at How we Montessori

We use Clay Technique Cards (at Teachers Pay Teachers) to take the children through each skill. 

Clay techniques to teach children at How we Montessori

My four-year-old loves to make snakes, snails and curls! 🐌

Clay techniques to teach children at How we Montessori

Tie. 

Clay techniques to teach children at How we Montessori

Wet.

Clay techniques to teach children at How we Montessori

Pinch. Don't feel like your child is too young to learn this. My four-year-old once made a beautiful pinch pot completely independently at Forest School. I was watching him from a distance anticipating that he would need my help, but he did it all on his own while observing his teachers and other students around him.  

Clay techniques to teach children at How we Montessori

Cut - using a child-safe knife or clay tool. 

Other clay related posts include: