Normally with children you would want to start off with hand-building pottery before moving onto the wheel. The wheel can be frustrating for even adults, so it's best to save that task for last. Some simple projects for your child to start out with are plates, small mugs and even decorative tiles.
Creating clay pottery piece is great for strengthening children's fingers, developing their motor skill and giving them a creative outlet. Another great benefit to teaching children how to create clay pottery is teaching them a quiet, calming activity that they will actually enjoy. The first time teaching your child these skills, you should keep it simple and far from aggressive. You want them to enjoy the activity, not hate it. Your child is going to want to start off slow and learn things the right way without having to make to many mistakes.
Normally with children you would want to start off with hand-building pottery before moving onto the wheel. The wheel can be frustrating for even adults, so it's best to save that task for last. Some simple projects for your child to start out with are plates, small mugs and even decorative tiles. These projects can all be completed by hand and in a short amount of time. Although the child will enjoy the hands on part of building the plates/mugs, the most exciting part to them will be painting. Not only do they get to get messy, but they get to use their creative site and make their project as colorful as they want it to be.
The most important part of teaching a child how to create clay pottery items is to help them with any steps that may require the use of a sharp instrument or hot objects. When it comes time to placing their pottery project in the kiln, be sure to explain the process to them in detail, but never allow them to come into contact with the kiln itself. This could result in an unwanted accident. Before you even start your child's project you should always run through a list of safety precautions so they are fully aware of the dangers.
