It's the Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship!

How does a child become friends with clay? Easy, familiar friends-the kind of friends who fling themselves into each others' arms when they meet, who sit close to each other, who speak without words.  Over the past few days the Lunch Bunch children began building that sort of friendship with clay.  We took out the table in the dramatic play center to make room and placed a big white tarp on the floor.  In its center, we arranged a block of light gray clay.  Some of the children met clay yesterday, others were formally introduced today.
We said,"This afternoon we get to have another "play date" with the clay, with our whole bodies."

The children touched the clay with their feet and toes, introducing themselves to the clay and listening for the clay's response. We encouraged the them to be bold, to see if the clay can play games:  "You might experiment with standing and/or jumping on the clay.  It's strong and can hold you. See how it feels under your feet.  Can you use your toes to explore the clay?"

One at a time each child climbed up onto the clay and jumped off,they dug their toes into the clay, they stomped and hopped all over the clay. Slowly the clay changed shape, offering a response to the children's play!

Nathaniel, Joshua R. and Samuel leaned into the clay with their whole bodies, pressing their hands into it. Sam thought, "I wonder if you can roll this clay into a big roll." The boys began to roll, push and fold the clay until it looked like a large flat piece of clay all rolled up!

The Lunch Bunch children began a beautiful friendship with clay this week, offering themselves to the clay with generosity and great affection, learning how it moves and changes shape and receives their offerings.  Their friendship, born in exuberant physical play will deepen over the weeks ahead as the children and clay continue to encounter one another.