Managing Big Emotions and Building Resilience with Clay
Essential to the Reggio Emilia philosophy is the belief that children possess a hundred languages through which they express their thoughts, imaginations, and understandings of the world. These languages include drawing, dramatic play, writing, and sculpting, among others. Clay is a flexible and responsive material and offers a comforting, satisfying means for expression and communication, encouraging children to shape their thinking into tangible forms.
Pair our favorite plasticine clay with popsicle sticks for endless making and engineering opportunities.
Clay invites children to engage in sensory play where each manipulation of the material can lead to new discoveries. The material responds to the lightest mark or the most forceful pound, and that is powerful for a young child! As children pinch, roll, flatten, or stack clay, they are not only honing their motor skills but also making choices that reflect their thinking, and develop cognitive abilities alongside physical skills.
Thrifted kitchen tools are essential in every classroom. Store them in a bin with plasticine clay or a ziplock bag of homemade playdough.
Offer large slabs of inexpensive pottery clay (often called horseshoe pit clay) for pounding, punching, and poking, an excellent way to to release energy and emotions.
Clay also supports emotional expression and resilience. It allows for endless transformations and iterations—clay play can be a soothing process where mistakes can be squished away and started over, which is essential for teaching flexibility and perseverance. Working with clay in shared spaces promotes respect, cooperation, and an appreciation for the ideas of others, as children observe and share their different approaches and outcomes. In this setting, children naturally expand their vocabulary and refine their communication skills.
Plasticine clay pairs well with our favorite wooden mannequins.
Here are five effective ways to support emotional regulation with clay:
Sensory Soothing – The tactile sensation of kneading, rolling, and molding clay provides a calming, hands-on experience that helps children relieve stress and self-soothe.
Expressing Emotions – Encourage children to create shapes, faces, or figures that represent how they feel. This gives them a safe, physical way to express emotions they may not yet have words for.
Practicing Patience – Working with clay requires time and focus, helping children learn patience as they shape and re-shape their creations.
Building Mindfulness – Clay play promotes mindfulness as children focus on the sensations, movements, and creative process, helping them stay present and connected to the moment.
Channeling Energy – Clay allows children to channel big emotions or excess energy through squeezing, pounding, and shaping, providing a constructive outlet that promotes self-regulation.
Using clay in these open-ended ways can offer kids a creative and supportive tool for managing emotions and building resilience.
Do you need help reimagining your classroom as a hub of creativity where children share ideas and feel seen, known, and celebrated? Learn more about our Materials Matters course and Professional Learning Workshops and transform your creative practice today.