Simple Clay Modeling Ideas
As mentioned earlier, clay can easily be modeled into anything by using additional tools such as stencils and clay shaping tools. While creating masterpieces with clay takes a lot of time and effort, you can definitely start off with some simple creations that will allow you to get a hang of the entire technique that goes into clay modeling. So here are some ideas that you can inspire from.
Initials for your Room Door
Modeling letters from clay is perhaps the simplest thing possible. Start simple by modeling clay into your initials, or your whole name, decorate it according to your personal style, and place it on your room door. The letters could be sharp or round, or in any font you want. In fact, if you are feeling a little adventurous, model your initials with clay in a different script. Use a tray as a backdrop and hang it on your door. Or, attach each letter to a sturdy string, and let it hang from the top of your door (something like a wind chime). Great idea, isn’t it?
3D Bookmarks
For the avid reader, a bookmark made of clay may be one of the best gifts you could give her/him. Of course, the option of making it for your reading pleasure is also available. So the idea is to use a cardboard base, and model small figures, shapes, or any other objects and stick them on the bookmark. For instance, you could model stars with a night sky as the backdrop on the bookmark. The stars could be decorated with glitter to truly shine. These stars would ideally be only on the top area of the bookmark so that it fits into books well. This was one example and there are several other ideas you can dabble with, within this idea.
Scrolls with Personal Messages
This is another clay model that would make a great gift for someone on their birthday or any special day, where you would carve out how special that person is to you, on a clay base. Model a plaque or a scroll from clay. Make it as long as you would like your message to be. Also make room for any embellishments you would like to add around the message. Now either using a free hand or stencils, carve out your message on the clay base. Once it hardens, you could paint it with metallic colors so that the writing stands out. While this would make a great gift, it can also make a great artifact for your home where you may carve out your thoughts or some of your favorite quotes and place it on a wall highlighted with an accent color.
Jewelry
A lot of different pieces of jewelry can be modeled from clay such as pendants, bangles, and earrings. While bangles may be the easiest to model, pendants can be shaped into anything you can imagine, painted accordingly, and put through a string to make a gorgeous necklace. Now some of you may want to make the chain from clay too. This is alright as long as it can bear the weight of the pendant. You don’t want it to snap suddenly and put your hard work to waste. Earrings again can be designed in a variety of shapes, probably to match the pendants you have modeled from clay.
Large Chess Pieces
To create an artifact for your home, you can replicate any chess piece of your choice, but in a larger size. Modeling such a big piece of clay may require a little more expertise. Once hardened, you may then spray paint it into a regal color such as a bronze or a dull gold. Even silver is a great idea. These colors will of course, vary based on the décor of your room. Place this artifact on the floor in the corner of a room (probably highlighted with a soft light), or on a vanity table in your living room. If you can manage it, make a chess piece large enough to function as a coat hanger! Yes, it will take some hard work, but will look simply awesome anywhere you place it.
So modeling clay is not such a bad idea after all, is it? Once again, there is so much to experiment with, so much color to add, so much to bring to life, that you just can’t be out of ideas. Hopefully you have drawn some inspiration from the ideas given here, and will be able to make some masterpieces with clay. Enjoy!
Creating Decorations and Decorating
Kid-created decorations are often the highlight of any holiday table. From hand turkeys to painstakingly crafted ornaments, people always love the handmade decorations the best, because they are truly made with love, and they’re usually the most fun. Find small things your kids can do, like creating centerpieces or napkin rings, and supervise their creations. Be sure to put these things out where people can see them when they come over, because there’s nothing worse than creating something you’re proud of and having it hidden. Let them show your guests what they’ve made and talk about it. They’ll be happy to do so! You can also have the kids help plan how to decorate the house for the season. Kids have great ideas, and their creativity is endless. Have them help mix up your usual decorating routine!
Shopping for and Wrapping Gifts
What better way to get into the spirit of the season than to go shopping? Kids love to pick out gifts for their parents, siblings, and friends. Give your kids a price limit, and then let them choose whatever they think the person they’re buying for would like. This will help them to be proud of their gifts, as well as try to budget according to the amount of money they have. These are valuable life skills, and it’s fun to see what they pick out for the ones they love. You can also let them wrap their own gifts. Give them options of gift bags or wrapping paper and watch them go to town. It may not be perfect, but it will be precious, for sure.
Cooking
Kids love to cook. They love to get their hands dirty and create fun meals with the help of their parents. They also feel a sense of pride in the food items they create, and they love it when people eat what they make and talk about how delicious it is. Allowing your kids into the kitchen can help them learn cooking and baking, and can also give them ownership over the holiday meal. Of course, you’ll have to help them along the way, but taking that time can really make a kid’s day. It will also give you some time with your child among the hustle and bustle of holiday time, which you’ll never regret having.
Other Crafts
Holiday crafts are the best. There are so many things you can do with just a little glue and glitter. Creating centerpieces and ornaments is fun, but you can also look to nature for inspiration. Leaf collages or prints are a fun way to capture the fall. Jack-o’-lanterns are an excellent way to celebrate Halloween (and don’t forget to toast those pumpkin seeds!), and there is endless inspiration to take from the first snowflakes that fall in winter. Your imagination is the key!
Introducing Kids to Gardening
Kids are found to have an innate interest in nature. They love chasing butterflies and playing in mud or water. They like touching worms and bugs. If your kid belongs to this category, you can easily introduce him/her to gardening. For others, you have to identify their area of interest, before forcing them to grow plants. Some may love watching bugs and worms, while others love flowers. You have to engage them in activities, which allow them to follow their interests. Try to make the activity interesting and fun-filled, as kids tend to get bored easily.
If your kid loves flowers, let him/her identify different types of flowers and their smell. Tell them about how plants grow and produce blooms and fruits. If the kid is found to be interested in a particular plant, you can grow that in your garden. Ask the kid to plant the seeds or water the soil. He/she will be enthusiastic to find the seed sprout, grow and bloom. This method is useful for those with kids in the age group of four to six. For older ones, you can assign a patch of soil for gardening. Let them grow flowers and vegetables of their choice. Supervise their work and help them. You may also ask them to present their products in local fairs.
You can introduce younger kids to gardening, but in a different way. Explain to them about the different types of plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables and how they grow in soil. Live examples are always better (choose those plants that grow fast). Let the kid watch, as you sow seeds, grow plants, remove weeds and feed them. This will help him/her to develop a bond with nature, at a very young age.
Fun-filled Gardening Activities for Kids
We all know that kids love fun-filled activities and anything that is monotonous, can be boring for them. So, make gardening a fun activity for them. Parents must plan the activities and join the kids for the same. The following are some tips about how to make gardening more interesting for kids.
To start with, allow your kid to roam around and explore the garden. You may also take the kid to places with natural surroundings. Collect different types of leaves and flowers and let the kids feel their texture and smell. Allow them to inspect different types of insects and worms.
For smaller kids, you may come up with activities like painting pots that are meant for plants. You may also allow them to collect differently shaped containers that can be used for this purpose. It could be anything from a discarded pair of shoes to an old can.
If you are searching for some fun-filled gardening activities for kids, try to make a watering can with old plastic bottles or containers. All you have to do is to make some holes on the lid of the bottle and a single hole (somewhere near the handle or top for air movement). Let your kid enjoy watering plants with the newly made watering can.
If you have space constraints, then get a good quality kids’ gardening kit and make your child grow some plants. These kits come with all the required materials for gardening, and so, are excellent for kids, especially the younger ones.
If you are ready to invest some time, then try to grow a playhouse (along with your kids) with plants like sunflower. You may also plant some cucumber or pole beans in between. Watermelon is also not a bad choice for this purpose. Kids will enjoy growing such a playhouse that could be a perfect spot for them to play and have fun.
Gardening activities for kids can be fun, if you allow them to grow plants in specific shapes. Allot them some soil or a patch of soil and some fast-growing seeds. Let the kids decide the shapes in which they want to grow the plants. It could be anything ranging from simple square or circle to alphabets. They can also use plants with colorful flowers. In that case, collect seeds of plants with flower colors matching with the seven shades in the rainbow and grow them in a semi-circular shape.
You may also plan a movable garden on wheels. Get a wagon planter and provide your kids with soil and bedding plants of their choice. Plants like ‘tickle me’ will be much more interesting for smaller kids. Even herbs, like peppermint and basil are good choices for their unique scent.
For older kids, you may get some special cultivars that they may enjoy growing. You may opt for cultivars like blue potato, yellow tomato, purple beans, etc. You may also choose plants with edible fruits and vegetables. Kids may enjoy harvesting and consuming the fresh veggies and fruits grown by them.
Growing a windowsill garden is one of the best winter gardening activities for kids. This is the best time for painting terracotta plant pots and other such gardening accessories. You may also help the kids to make a terrarium or a bird feeder. Vermicomposting can also be done during this time.
The above said are only a few guidelines about gardening with children. You may use them as per the age of your child and his/her temperament. However, make sure to monitor these activities and help them, if needed. This is more applicable for younger kids. It will be better to go for plants that grow fast and seeds that are large and easy-growing. Go for organic gardening and avoid chemicals in any form. Ensure that the kids keep the work area clean and wash their hands with soap, once they finish their daily work in the garden. Never fail to encourage them for their efforts.
You may find a thousand other ways to make gardening fun-filled and interesting for your kids. Apart from instilling a love for nature, gardening helps kids to recognize the value of fresh fruits and vegetables. It can also be viewed as a form of exercise for kids, who would otherwise spend time watching television or sitting in front of a computer. So, let loose your creativity and come up with some unique gardening ideas that your kids will enjoy.