One of the favorite activities of children of almost any age is to make modeling clay. I have checked with my children: with a block of plasticine they can spend the entire afternoon, imagining, playing and creating all kinds of things.
But modeling clay is much more than just a game of entertainment, and today we will explain the multiple benefits it has for children. Do not hesitate, and get a plasticine kit to play with your family!
Develop your creativity
Children are true geniuses of imagination, but with the time and education they receive at home and at school, that creativity is dying little by little. Therefore, experts advise offer children all kinds of materials that allow them to create from nothing, or shape the ideas they have in their head.
In Babies and more 98 percent of five-year-olds are geniuses of the imagination: what ends up killing their innate creativity?Among these materials (always making sure that they are safe and suitable for children) would be the markers, colored pencils, watercolors, finger paints, waxes ... and, of course, modeling clay.
Let him express himself freely and express his ideas with the help of modeling clay. Without judgments, without orders, and without directing you in your creation or in the colors you should use. Simply, respecting their times and not setting limits to their amazing imagination.
Stimulate your senses
Soften and heat with a hand a block of plasticine, knead it, make sticks, round it, crush it ... the plasticine manipulation allows the child to discover, through touch, a wide variety of geometric shapes and textures.
But making modeling clay also stimulates other senses, such as sight (through colors, for example) and smell, since, in general, the smell of modeling clay is very sweet, pleasant and something we usually remember a lifetime.
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"Why doesn't this figure that I just modeled with modeling clay stand up?" This simple question makes the child start his creativity when it comes to solving problems and looking for solutions, while learning about the volumes, sizes and proportions of things.
Modeling with plasticine, children will have a much clearer idea about the size of everyday objects, in addition to that unlike what happens when they draw on paper, they will be working in three dimensions, by giving their creations volume.
They will also learn what happens to the colors when they mix with each other, and the different shades that the plasticine reaches as we incorporate new tones into our mix.
Work fine motor skills
Fine motor skills involve the use of all hand muscles. Promoting fine motor skills is important for the child's development., both cognitively and emotionally and socially. In addition, performing fine motor tasks, the young child will be preparing his hands to introduce himself, later, in the use of writing tools.
But modeling clay too promotes the development of coordination between hands and eyesight, improves the strength of the hand muscles, dexterity and agility of the fingers.
It has a relaxing effect.
Making modeling clay is, according to experts, one of the most relaxing and reassuring children's activities that is, hence it is recommended to calm anxiety, or for children suffering from stress, are restless or even in cases of hyperactivity or ADHD.
In Babies and more How to know if my child has ADHD: symptoms, tests, how to proceed, how to avoid a false diagnosisIt favors your concentration
As with chess or, in general, with the practice of any manual activity, making modeling clay improves the child's ability to concentrate, because it helps you set short and long term goals (design a figure), and concentrate on your work to finish it.
In addition, working with the five senses put in the development of an idea keeps the child occupied for a long period of time, turning the activity into something motivating for him.
Improve your self-esteem
And while the child advances in the clay design of his idea, his self-esteem will increase, because will be able to design everything that is proposed, as well as looking for solutions or allergies to the problems that may arise.
On the other hand, it is important that we strengthen your self-esteem praising his capacity for effort, and highlighting the work done. And there is nothing more valuable to a child than the recognition of their loved ones.
In Babies and more, seven keys to foster in your children the value and importance of effortIt favors social relations
If the activities with plasticine are done in a group (between siblings, family, friends ...), the child will also be promoting their social and communication skillsWell, while playing, he will be explaining to others what he does, or even learning to express in words certain related actions.
Another important aspect of making plasticine in company is the promotion of cooperative work, because among all the members of the group they can create common figures, share materials, and help or give each other ideas to develop their work.
It will help you feel good
And as always happens when the child plays and stimulates his imagination, the body will release endorphins that will provide happiness and well-being, but also other neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine and dopamine, which will help you not only to improve your mood, but to promote your brain development.
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