This paper was prepared by Lisa Terreni.
Biography
Lisa Terreni is a lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington College of Education. She currently co-coordinates two Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) papers, which focus on young children's written, oral and visual literacy. She is also a practicing artist.
Children develop skills for making 3 dimensional art objects
One of the key elements in visual art is form, that is, shape in three dimensions1. In an early childhood art programme clay is a particularly useful medium for enabling infants, toddlers and young children to explore this element. Clay invites physical manipulation and even the simplest of physical actions – squeezing, patting, poking, or piling it up – produces an immediate and satisfying change to its shape and form.
As young children's skill with clay develops from having regular access to it, increasingly complex experiments with form take place that can result in the creation of sophisticated and accomplished clay pieces.
I feel it is important that children have a wide range of visual art opportunities so they can make considered choices about which medium they prefer to use to express and communicate their ideas2. It has been my experience that children who sometimes avoid painting and drawing are drawn to the sculptural possibilities that clay offers. The ability to make something solid and that has a 'back', 'sides', 'front', 'underneath' or 'inside' seems to motivate children to use this medium3. I have also noticed that the technical problem-solving that is required for complex clay pieces provides stimulating creative challenges. As children work to solve technical problems with clay they often collaborate, sharing their skills and knowledge with each other. Toddlers particularly enjoy using clay and delight in its sensory and tactile qualities. They seem to greatly enjoy interchanges with adults as they use it.
Please take a look at our video Poking, Pushing and Prodding, where Lily is shaping clay on the table.
1 Three dimensional forms have width, length and depth and can be viewed from 360 degrees. Two dimensional art objects - such as paintings, prints or photographs only have length and width and are created on a flat surface.
2 Ministry of Education (1996). Te Whāriki: He Whāriki Matauranga Mo Nga Mokopuna O Aotearoa Early Childhood Curriculum. Wellington: Learning media.
3 Kolbe, U. (2007). Rapunzle's supermarket: All about young children and their art. Australia: Peppinot Press.