Clay Modelling

 


There is something very therapeutic about playing with clay even as an adult.  The tactile nature of clay lets young children develop their imaginations and their moter skills while having fun.

Scroll down for our ideas of some of the things you could make from clay. We've also provided recipes to make your own dough.

Clay Modelling Ideas for Kids

Ancient Egypt Salt Dough Amulets

Ancient Egypt Salt Dough Amulets

An amulet is a small object that a person wears or carries for luck or protection. In Ancient Egypt, amulets were also used in jewellery and were wrapped up within a mummy's bandages to ensure a good afterlife.

Ancient Egypt Salt Dough Cartouches

Ancient Egypt Salt Dough Cartouches

In Egyptian hieroglyphs, a cartouche was an oval with a horizontal line at one end, indicating that the text enclosed is a royal name - rather like a name plate! They were found attached to coffins and also on the jewellery of pharaohs.

Bean Mandala

Bean Mandala

This is a simple, original idea for a really lovely, satisfying mandala craft. Deciding on your design and pushing the beans into the clay can get children of all ages absorbed, and the finished artwork looks fabulous on display.

Birthday Candle Menorah

Birthday Candle Menorah

Most of us have some birthday candles lying around the house ... so here is a fun craft to turn them into a Menorah for Hanukkah which children of all ages will be able to enjoy

Blow Skiing Game

Blow Skiing

Here's a fun home-made game you can play in the winter - perfect for the Winter Olympics too! It's also an excellent game for asthmatic children, encouraging them to blow out steadily.

Bone Carving Necklaces Craft

Bone Carving Necklaces Craft

Kids can have a go at making these stunning pretend bone carving necklaces traditionally worn by Maoris in New Zealand and very popular today around the world. We have three designs to make.

Clay Bird Craft

Clay Bird Craft

Kids can make some really beautiful clay birds with this simply clay bird craft for children. It's a good craft for groups of children and parties, too.

Daffodil Magnet

Daffodil Magnet

Here's a quick and easy modelling craft for children. This daffodil magnet is perfect for Spring, St David's Day or Easter.

You will need:

Diya Craft

Diya Craft

This is a simple clay craft idea which children enjoy because it is fast and the results can be used quickly! You could of course adapt this idea to give as a gift.

Dolphin Necklace

Dolphin Necklace

Kids will enjoy making this pretty dolphin pendant necklace, and will be proud to show it off!

This necklace would make a wonderful gift for a friend or relation, too.

Dymkovo Toy

Dymkovo Toy

Dymkovo toys, also known as Vyatka toys or Kirov toys, are a traditional Russian folk art handicraft made by woman. They are moulded and painted clay figures of people and animals. Try your hand at making your own!

Egg Beads

Egg Beads

Most beads are round, but our "egg beads" are egg-shaped - an original craft idea for Easter!

You will need:

Fimo Hearts Card

Fimo Hearts Card

Have some sculpting fun with this fimo hearts card. This one is better delivered by hand, but if you are going to post this card, we suggest using a padded envelope!

Guest Post - Making Medals

Guest Post - Making Medals

Making medals with air-drying clay or playdough is a great hands-on activity for the kids! Shelly has written about the fun her son had making his own medals during the Tokyo Olympics in this guest post.

Harvest Basket Craft

Harvest Basket Craft

This Harvest Basket is a quick and easy craft but it provides the excuse for getting out the playdough to make the vegetables to fill your harvest basket! It's a lovely craft to fill up an autumn afternoon with your younger children.

Harvest Loaf

Harvest Loaf

Here are instructions for children to make and bake a harvest loaf out of salt dough - a fun craft for Thanksgiving or Harvest Festival. The harvest loaf was always traditionally made in a wheat sheaf shape. Some were very intricate, so you could try this craft with all ages of children.

Heart Choker / Necklace

Heart Choker / Necklace

Give a special friend this personalized heart choker necklace as a very special present!

You will need:

Heart Fridge Magnet

Heart Fridge Magnet

Here's a handmade kids craft which anyone would be proud to display on their fridge - perfect for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day.

Heart Plaque Key Ring

Heart Plaque Key Ring

Here's a sweet craft for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day which the kids will enjoy making. It looks very pretty so whoever they give it to is sure to be pleased!

Heart Plaque Necklace

Heart Plaque Necklace

This pretty necklace, with a heart plaque made from polymer clay, would be a fun craft activity for Valentines Day, Mother's Day - or anytime! We made it in pink, but of course red would look stunning, too.

Homemade Heart Bead Necklace

Homemade Heart Bead Necklace

Here's a pretty Homemade Heart Bead Necklace using polymer clay that kids will enjoy making for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day - or themselves!

Loch Ness Monster Craft

Loch Ness Monster Craft

Who wouldn't want one of these monsters of their very own! Our Loch Ness Monster craft is simple to make, and very effective.

Lotus Flower Bowl

Lotus Flower Bowl

This clay modelling craft uses a kitchen bowl as a base to create a lovely lotus flower bowl. It would make a super trinket bowl, and a perfect gift for the kids to give to friends or family - perhaps for Mother's Day?

Make a Terracotta Warrior

Make a Terracotta Warrior

The Terracotta Army was discovered in 1974 by a farmer in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China. Dating from 210BC, there are now believed to be an unbelievable 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and a further 150 cavalry horses - the majority of which are still buried and unseen.

Modelling Clay Monster

Modelling Clay Monster

This modelling clay monster craft is a great craft idea for little ones, because anything goes!

You will need:

Play Dough Recipe

Play Dough Recipe

This is an excellent play dough recipe which is fun to make and never fails to provide amusement on a rainy afternoon!

You will need:

Polymer Clay Owl

Polymer Clay Owl

Sam made this little polymer clay owl with four different colours of clay and some simple clay techniques. Very cute!

You will need:

Rainbow Fridge Magnet (Or Brooch)

Rainbow Fridge Magnet

Spotting a rainbow is always a special occasion, and having seen this pretty rainbow fridge magnet craft I am convinced that every family's fridge needs a rainbow on it!

Ribbon Heart Key Ring

Ribbon Heart Key Ring

This makes a cute gift for kids to make for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day - or just for themselves! It looks pretty hanging on a pencil case or satchel.

Rubber Stamped Photo Frame

Rubber Stamped Photo Frame

This quick and easy clay photo frame is incredibly effective, and children will enjoy experimenting with the patterns they can make. Of course, if you don't like your design you can just roll up the clay and start again.

Salt Dough

Salt Dough

Salt dough won't last long to play with but it can be sculted into lovely models which can be dried out and kept.

You will need:

Salt Dough Apple Wreath and Name Card Holder

Salt Dough Apple Wreath

This salt dough apple wreath and its matching place card holders look very pretty displayed on a Thanksgiving or Harvest table, are sure to be brought out year after year. You could of course adapt the craft for other fruit and vegetables. Make sure you apply varnish if you want them to last!

Tiger Face Magnet

Tiger Face Magnet

Perfect for the fridge to welcome in the Year of the Tiger, this tiger face magnet would also make a gift for someone born in the Year of the Tiger, either as a magnet (as described here) or perhaps as a brooch.

Tiny Fairy Wands

These gorgeous mini wands are fun to make but take a bit of patience while you wait for them to dry at the various stages. If you are throwing a fairy party, perhaps the party child could make one for each of her guests in advance and pop them in the party bags to take home?

Tulip Magnet

Tulip Magnet

Kids can make this pretty magnet for a Mother's Day gift or just to cheer up the house during the spring months, when tulips are out in all their glory!

More Modelling Fun

Playdough Mats
Playdough Mats

You Might Also Enjoy:

Printing
Printing

Explore Activity Village

Become a Member to access 39,201 printables!