Learning how to shape clay and make decorative items is a hobby that is seeing a rebirth in modern times, but few people realize its attraction to those of all age groups. Young children find it a fascinating way to pass the time, and they are happy to make many different shapes that might not ever be fired in a kiln. Older children find the process of creating items with clay to be very forgiving, and it allows them the opportunity to create without fear of failure.
The very youngest members of society are those who have little say in how their day goes, but their imaginations soar as they discover the world around them in and out of the school room. Their inability to describe what they see and feel can be a frustration for them, but working with clay gives them the ability to express themselves in a concrete way. They can spend hours working with clay and molding it into a variety of shapes, and playing with it is one of the reasons teachers find it a good lesson to teach.
Easing the strain of the teen years has long been a difficult issue for parents and teachers as well as their children, and finding safe activities has been part of their dilemma. Working with clay has few downsides in this case, and it gives young adults a chance to express themselves in a classroom setting. No matter their age, they have an ability that is neither formal nor expected to be perfect. They can let their minds range while enjoying a relaxing activity that could result in learning to create a work of art they can give as a gift or keep as a reminder of their teenage years.
Adults and the elderly have found great peace in working clay by hand, and many of them have honed their manual skills as well as their ability to be patient when working with this malleable substance. The quiet craftsmanship necessary to create a beautiful piece gives them a respite from the hustle and bustle of modern society, and it helps them leave behind the cares and stresses of their busy days.
