Supplies:
- Sculpting or modeling clay
- Paper or plastic plate, cookie sheet, or tray
- Non-skid surface for under the plate, cookie sheet, or tray
Step by Step Fun!
Perfect activity for more than one child! At a table, place a plate in front of each child and the playdough mound of sculpting clay placed on their dominant or weaker side, based on their needs. (Placing it on the weaker side will encourage more use of it. Provide step-by-step verbal instructions to sculpt a smiley face (keep this a surprise).
Sample Instructions:
- “Tear a piece off of the clay and roll it into a ball the size of a quarter.”
- “Place the ball in the middle of the plate.”
- “Gently press on the ball to flatten it slightly so it stays in place.”
- “Take a piece of clay, half the size of the first ball, and roll it into a ball.”
- “Make another ball the same size as the small ball.”
- “Place both small balls above the big ball on the plate.”
- “Place three fingers from your left hand next to the left ball.”
- “Move the small ball to the other side of your fingers and put it on the plate.”
- “Gently press on the ball to flatten it slightly so it stays in place.”
- “Place three fingers from your right hand next to the right ball.”
- “Move the small ball to the other side of your fingers and put it on the plate.”
- “Gently press on the ball to flatten it slightly so it stays in place.”
- “Take a large piece of clay and roll it into a snake the length of your index finger.”
- “Place that snake under the large ball on the plate."
- “Curve each end of the snake up.”
Activity Alternatives:
- Reduce sensory and fine motor challenges by providing a specific amount of modeling clay for each step.
- Tell them what they will be sculpting and/or provide them with a model so they have a mental image of it while they sculpt.
- Simplify the project by creating objects with fewer steps, like a circle, to accommodate varying skill levels.
- Tap their right or left hand or side, when discriminating between right and left is necessary, if your child does not yet know their right from left.
Challenge Boosters:
- Create different objects, such as animals, to add variety and complexity.
- Incorporate a time constraint by setting a timer for completing each step. Gradually reduce the time allowed for each subsequent step to enhance the challenge.
Benefits of Play
- Enhances receptive language skills by focusing your child’s attention on and comprehension of verbal instructions.
- Develops fundamental skills in following verbal directions, essential for everyday life and academic success.
- Fine motor and hand awareness skills are developed and enhanced through the manipulation of the clay.
- Right-left discrimination is developed as they follow the instructions to use their left vs right hand or place items on the left or right side.