Pottery with children - instructions for learning and ideas

• material selection
  • volume
  • Modeling clay FIMO
  • Aids - further needed materials for pottery
• Which motive should I choose "> Motive 1: The owl
• Motive 2: The Christmas tree
• Motif 3: The fly agaric
• Motif 4: The spoon
• Motif 5: The ladybug
• Motif 6: Hanger
• Drying and painting
• Quick guide

Are you looking for a creative pastime with your children, which you can easily implement on rainy days in the house and in addition, the fine motor skills is trained? If so, you are in the right place! Of course you can also pottery outdoor, but especially in rainy weather, there are often lack of useful ways to promote the children. Pottery is fun, and not just for the kids! It is important, however, to prepare well and have all the materials at hand.

Creative pastime with children: pottery

Difficulty level 1-5 / 5
(depending on motive and number of different motives variable)

Material costs 2/5
(Depending on the base material additional burning costs may apply)

Time required 1-5 / 5
(variable depending on motif selection and quantity)

material selection

Quite rudimentarily, there are two basic materials in the pottery for laymen: Firstly, right clay in different compositions or modeling clay such as FIMO.

volume

Clay can be shaped very nicely, but it dries out more easily during longer processing and can therefore crack faster. In addition, you usually only get it in white or natural colors and then you have to dye it yourself. In the case of self-dyed clay, however, there is a high likelihood that it will continuously rub off (on hands, background and textiles) during further processing (ie during pottery). For this reason, it is advisable to work with natural colors and to paint and glaze the workpieces after the clay has been fired.

Few people can burn the right sound at home, as a special oven with very high temperatures is needed here. A burning in the oven is not possible here. In addition, the finished creations should be able to dry slowly for at least a week after the design, which is of course less beautiful for children. In this case, I still decided for classical pottery with clay. With FIMO, however, it is easier for children.

Modeling clay FIMO

FIMO is a brand name. It is a modeling clay, which is already pre-dyed in many different colors and does not rub off during processing. So an ideal children's material for pottery. In addition, FIMO can be "burned" in the household oven and therefore completed at short notice. In the trade there are also a lot of accessories for this product such as rollers, templates, stamps, empty jewelry pendants and much more, with which many new ideas for pottery are created. For some time there has been the FIMOkids product range, where the modeling compound is particularly soft and thus very easy to work with.

Detailed instructions on the topic "Crafting with polymer clay" can be found here: //www.zhonyingli.com/basteln-mit-fimo-knete/

Aids - further needed materials for pottery

To work with clay you should always provide a small bowl of water to compensate for a cracked and uneven areas and on the other to glue together different sections. In addition, you can use anything that makes sense to you. A rolling pin is useful, for example, if you want to pot hangers or other flat objects. In addition, different items with which you can make prints and patterns (cookie cutters, felt tip caps, Entgitterungshaken, Spritzsackaufsätze and much more). You will also need a knife to cut larger pieces of clay from the clay block.

For working with FIMO there are, as mentioned above, much of additional products for pottery in the trade. Apart from that, you can of course, just as well as the sound, here too just gather everything that you think is useful.

Which motive should I choose ">

Tip: Print only a few designs as a template to give food for thought and to give children the opportunity to become creative themselves.

Tip: If you are working with clay, prepare a place for the finished works to be left to dry for about a week (eg a large wooden board - in this case, put a foil in between, as the clay gives off water). or a plastic board).

If you are working with FIMO, you should ideally prepare a baking sheet accordingly in order to "burn" the finished plants directly afterwards.

Motive 1: The owl

To model a simple owl, first make a flat surface about 3mm high with the rolling pin and make a circular shape. Decorate this circular shape to about half with "feathers" (I have used a spray nozzle, but it works with any other similar object such as a straw or a pen cap). Fold the two outer sides inwards so that they meet in the middle.

Then fold the top down so that it comes to rest slightly above the middle. Squeeze everything sensitively and shape the ears of the owl slightly. Now use your aid to emboss two eyes on the head part and then with a fork or a knife an indicated beak. And already the first motive is finished!

Motive 2: The Christmas tree

For the Christmas tree you need a conical object as a temporary support. It becomes stable when you form a cone of clay, which remains permanently under the "disguise". Now model a long line and wind it around the cone starting from the bottom until you reach the top.

You can now decorate the Christmas tree with balls and a punched out or cut star, which you can attach to the tree by means of some water.

Thus, the second motif is ready!

Motif 3: The fly agaric

Form a ball, press it flat and form a bowl from it. In the middle you can press in a small pit, which is later moistened, so that the stem holds well. Turn the bowl and attach small beads. For the stalk, make a slightly thicker roll and spread it out at the bottom (it can stand at the table). With a bit of water on your fingers, you can achieve a smoother surface. The top runs relatively pointed and is moistened. Now put the "hat" on the handle and push everything carefully.

Voila! - The third motif is ready!

Motif 4: The spoon

Roll out some modeling clay and cut out a rectangle in which the dipper stick can be stored well. Roll the dipper into the mass and shape it to your liking. Now you can still attach different ornaments and also the fourth motif is ready!

Motif 5: The ladybug

To make a simple ladybird, make a hemisphere by carefully pressing a ball against the table top and repainting. Now use an arcuate object (for example, a circle cutter) and make an impression as the dividing line for the head part. This step can also be done freehand with a knife. Carefully divide the back of the beetle with the knife into two halves (only as an impression - do not cut through). In the visual field, impress eyes, nose and mouth, and points on each wing. The ladybug is ready!

Motif 6: Hanger

Whether as a tree decoration or as a decoration in the window or on the door: hangers bring Christmas mood into the house. Here's a very quick tutorial on pottery that even small children can do effortlessly: Walk the modeling clay to a surface about 3mm high. Make a basic shape (in the picture the circle) and a smaller decorative shape (in the picture of the star). Fix the star on the circle with some water. Lastly, use a straw or other tool of your choice to pierce a hole in the side that will later be on top. These hangers can now be decorated according to your mood. Thus, our sixth motif is ready.

Drying and painting

Since I have worked with clay, all workpieces now have to be pre-dried at room temperature for one week, so that no cracks occur later during firing. Of course, I have already worked on it so that you do not have to wait a week, so now I can paint the ready for you and present you with lacquered works. Of course, the color scheme is up to you! Have fun pottery!

Quick guide

1. Select basic material for pottery
2. Assemble additional materials
3. Provide a small bowl of water
4. Make different motives
5. Allow pottery to dry for a week with clay
6. Burn
7. Paint pottery with pottery
8. Painting
9. Done!

The twisted pirate