Get ready to unleash the creativity of your crafty, artistic child or make the most of that long school vacation (or that long school semester if you’re a teacher)! If you’ve been wondering what kind of kid-friendly projects can be crafted with clay, look no further. We’ve got an array of thrilling clay ideas that will keep those little fingers busy and their imaginations soaring high! From whimsical pinch pots to decorative tiles, there’s no limit to what your child can create. Clay play is an incredible way to foster their development and ignite a lifelong passion for art, all while having a blast in the process. So, get ready to embrace the messiness and let your child dive headfirst into the muddy world of clay!

Tips for Getting Started

Many of these projects require a kiln, but if you don’t have access, feel free to use self-hardening clay, or swap out underglazes and glazes with paint. You can seal the finished pieces with acrylic sealant for protection, just remember that they won’t be food safe or water tight. 

To make the projects easier, give each child a board or mat to work on. This will help keep the clay from sticking to the table, and will keep their workspace more contained. It also helps make clean-up a bit easier once they are done!

Don’t worry if your aspiring artist goes off-project. Once they get their hands busy you will see them bursting with ideas of their own! Encourage improvisation and enjoy the surprising results.

Pinch Pot Fairy Houses

We absolutely love this project from Rovin Ceramics! It’s a great way to introduce the foundational skill of pinch pot making, while encouraging imagination and whimsy. It’s also easily adaptable to a wide age range simply by adjusting the complexity or tweaking the theme. Kids will have the opportunity to play with color and texture, and can work together to create a fairy village. They can also cut out the door to make toad houses, or little playhouses for their favorite toys. We’re confident your little ones will be overflowing with inspiration once they get started!

Slab Fish with Oil Pastels

If your kid loves bright colors, then this is the project for them! Suited for kids aged 4-6, this simple slab project introduces texture and stamping along with a no-glaze pastel and ink/watercolor technique that adds great depth and contrast. We think your kids will have a blast making these expressive little fish, and will likely have a whole school made before they get bored! Consider adding magnets or holes for hanging so you can proudly display their finished masterpieces. 

Pointillism with Pizzazz

Perfect for the aspiring painter, this project from Amaco combines ceramics, creative glazing, and a bit of art history and color theory. Using glaze-fired tiles as their canvas, your child will use a simple stippling technique to build up beautiful landscapes in the likes of artist George Seurat. Supplement this lesson by sharing some images of other pointillist painters for extra inspiration!

Coiled Bowls

Making coils out of clay is almost a universal tendency when it comes to our first exposures to clay, and kids are no different! Give them a ball of clay and within moments they’ll be coiling a snake or a snail.  We love this bowl project because not only does it introduce them to the pattern-potential of coils, but it also introduces them to the vessel, and to clay as a functional material. It also gives them two different surfaces to express themselves with, the snakey exterior, and the smooth canvas-like interior. This one is great for kids and adults alike, so try it out yourself along with your kids for some great one-on-one time!

Leaf Bowl

An excellent way to combine outdoor time with clay building, this project is great for the nature lover! Head out on an adventure to collect some leaves, then bring them in for use as templates for these easy slab-built bowls. This is a great way to teach about different trees, while also playing with color, texture, and form.

Clay Coral Reef

We love this project because it combines so many different techniques, and gives tons of room for creativity. Combined with a brief lesson on the importance of coral reefs and the challenges they face, it excites the mind as well as the hands, and it offers great opportunities to play with more complex compositions, color combinations, and textures. 

We’re sure you’ll agree that these 6 creative clay projects offer endless opportunities for self-expression, imagination, and skill development, while allowing your kids to explore their artistic abilities and unleash their creativity. Remember, the process is just as important as the final result, so encourage your children to experiment, get messy, and enjoy every moment of their clay adventures. These projects not only provide hours of entertainment but also nurture cognitive, sensory, and fine motor skills. So, gather your materials, roll up your sleeves, and let the magic of clay bring joy and artistic growth to your child’s world. Get ready for countless smiles, proud moments, and a shared love for the art of clay!

We know just how proud you will be of your kids’ creations, so why not share them with The Ceramic School’s online clay community? We can’t wait to see what they’ve cooked up!