Activity: Hands-on Sculpture

Encouraging your child through art and language to feel comfortable and confident in sharing his or her talents is a great way to foster self-esteem.

Materials:

• modeling clay (enough non-drying art/sculptor's clay for two hand-sized sculptures)
• basic kitchen tools like a plastic spoon, fork, or anything handy that could make a small pattern or design on the clay can be used. Note: Be sure to not encourage use of sharp objects.

Directions:
Have fun creating simple hand-molded objects with clay. How about molding a dog like Clifford or Clifford's dog bone? No lesson needed here. Just start your sculpture with a handful of art/sculptor's clay. Begin shaping the clay by rolling it and using your fingers and see the shapes come to life!

Take It Further:

• Make a delicious ice cream desert, add two spoons and share the yumminess!
• Share your pet or favorite stuffed animal with a long-distance friend by taking a picture of it and sending it, along with a kind note.
• Trade Clifford or other favorite books and videos with a friend.

With a Group: This fun hands-on activity will encourage children to share without getting too attached the objects they are playing with. Have children gather in a small circle. Hand each child a hand-size ball of clay or play dough. Set a timer for 3-5 minutes. Then get ready, set, go! When timer goes off, it's time to stop and have a fun show-and-tell time about everyone's original creation. Afterwards, have children quickly ball up their clay/dough and pass it to the next person. Repeat activity.