Using clay is a very good activity for improving finger movements. Olden days children used to play with mud and clay outside our home. Now a days we are more worried about hygiene, cleanliness etc!
Artificial clay which is available in any stationary shop can be used and reused for a longer time. Usual activities done using clay includes:
- Making balls of different sizes with finger tips, palm etc
- Making strings, flattening the balls with thumb, flatting with rolling pin etc
- Make different shapes of different sizes and colors.
Alternate ideas which may interest the child to do the activity:
When dough is made for preparing roti, ask to help by making balls and also for making rotis using the rolling pins. The round mouth of a glass or other shapes can be cut to form different shaped rotis.
Buy M-seal available in hardware shop. Make small balls and arrange to form flowers, make leaf shapes, twines etc. This can be used to decorate pots etc. This requires adult attention. The work has to be done faster as the m-seal dries up faster. Also care should be taken so that the children don’t put it into mouth. Wash hands thoroughly once completed.
See the below post for a similar m-seal art work
