How to make airdry clay pinch bowls with kids

Clay encourages creativity, experimentation and imagination. It improves hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, Any kind of art and craft activity increases their attention span. Clay molding and making things with it is one of those activities. They can develop patience with it. It is an activity which can be done independently or something that does not require a lot of instructions. Out of the many art and craft activities we have done, I would say this one requires least instructions . For example in painting activity, you need to give instructions and see to it that they follow it. 

Of course it is our responsibility to show them the basic steps about how to do it atleast once. They will soon get the idea and make more things with it. 

You would need air clay clay, rolling pin and board, cookie cutters and a bowl to mold it in shape.

We made one pinch bowl each.  I asked my 3 year old to take out a big ball of air dry clay and roll it with rolling pin. I demonstrated one for him by rolling out mine. My rolling pin is heavy so yes, he had to apply more pressure. It was funny to see him grunting. I kept the rolled clay in a bigger bowl. I did smooth the top part to give it a better finish. We choose our cookie cutters. I choose a small round one. He was more creative and insisted on using alphabet cookie cutters. We let it dry for a day or two. Little bunny checked the bowl so many times to see it was dry. He sighed so many times" why is it taking so much time to dry?" Finally it did. 

He choose to paint it in orange. I think it looks spectacular. We use it to keep his small toys, small cars, lego people, pencils and crayons. 

I have used air dry clay. I made sure he washes his hands thoroughly after activity was done. Also after it dried and painted, even then we did not use it for food. 

                                                               Pictures taken by me.