Modeling: a crafting activity that promotes cognitive skills

In many educational concepts, the modeling of shapes and figures plays an important role in daycare or school routines. Because by working with different modeling materials such as clay, sand, playdough or papier-mâché, children not only practice their fine motor skills, they also sharpen their powers of observation and learn to estimate and reproduce proportions correctly. Unlike painting, modeling portrays objects three-dimensionally. This is a challenge for children that gets easier each time.

Which modeling techniques for which age?

• playdough Colored playdough without plasticizers can already be used by the very youngest. While playdough is harmless for small children and easy to work with as a modeling material, it is unfortunately also unstable: after some time small creations become crumbly and unsightly.

• Self-hardening / oven-hardening modeling material Modeling material can be bought at the craft store. It is a bit firmer than playdough, but can be kneaded soft for processing. Even kindergarten children have lots of fun with this modeling technique. After curing in the air or in the oven, the figures can be varnished, decorated or painted, for example as figures on a self-made mobile.

• Clay Working with clay is a very good exercise for sensory perception for kindergarten and elementary school children. It is easy to work with like playdough, but with a little water it can be squished and molded to your heart's content. Those who do not have access to a kiln can buy air-drying clay at the craft store, which can be painted with acrylic paint after drying.

• Papier-mâché Modeling with papier-mâché is not difficult, but it takes time. Both soaking or pasting the paper pulp and drying and decorating the figures takes a while. Elementary school children manage papier-mâché very well with a little help and can, for example, make masks, heads for hand puppets or figures themselves.

• Plaster bandages Modeling with plaster is similar to working with papier-mâché, although you have to be a bit careful when handling plaster and water. However, the work and cleaning effort is worth it. Models made from plaster bandages become very hard and are perfect for reproducing certain shapes.

Craft tip: Papier-mâché masks from balloons

Materials needed:

• Balloons

• Newspaper

• Bristle brush (paintbrush)

• Wallpaper paste for mixing

• Scissors

• Paints and brushes for painting

• Optional: wool for a hairstyle, colorful decorative stones etc.

• Elastic band

Modeling – here's how:

1. Inflate one balloon per mask. Make sure the balloon is roughly the same size as the child's head so the mask fits well later.

2. Sprinkle the paste into a container of water according to the package instructions and stir vigorously until there are no more lumps. Let it sit for a short time to swell; dilute with water again if necessary.

3. Tear newspaper into pieces, paint with paste or dip directly into the paste. Lay in layers on the balloon until the entire balloon is covered, smoothing the surface with your fingers.

4. Apply 3–4 layers on top of each other, leaving the knotted end of the balloon free. Then allow the papier-mâché to dry completely.

Designing the mask – here's how:

1. When the papier-mâché is completely firm (best to wait a day), prick the balloon with a needle and pull it out of the papier-mâché shell through the hole.

2. Cut the shell lengthwise into two halves with a sharp pair of scissors, starting from the hole at the bottom where the balloon knot was. Now the mask shape is ready. If desired, cut off a smaller part of the papier-mâché form instead of cutting it in half so that the mask extends over the back of the head.

3. Depending on what kind of mask it should be, cut holes for the eyes and mouth with scissors now.

4. The outside of the mask is completely painted with a base color. Acrylic paints are best suited because they give a nice shine and make the mask's surface even harder. For young children, however, watercolors or tinting paint from the hardware store.

5. Now the mask is painted individually. Whether it's a monster mouth, dreamy princess eyes or an pirate eye patch. Colorful yarn strands can be glued to the top of the mask as hair.

6. Hold the mask up to the face and poke small holes in the mask near the ears on both sides. Thread the elastic band from one hole to the other and knot the fastening – done!

Image credits

Asian girl wearing a hat, sitting at a table and modeling with clay © somchairakin - stock.adobe.com

Child sitting at a table and shaping a cup from clay with their fingers © Maria - stock.adobe.com