Adventures with Modelling Clay

I was excited about introducing Lily to Modelling Clay, or what's probably better known as Play Doh.   The brand name Play Doh is part of the giant toy conglomerate Hasbro, so I made it a point to try and use the term modelling clay with Lily.

So, we played with clay.

I'm tempered by past experience to know that kids don't always 'get' things the first time.   She wasn't going to be doing a re-creation of Michelangelo's David the first time, and I reluctantly accepted that.   Still, she did a pretty good job, and it clearly showed the genius that every parent manages to find in their kid.

I gave her a fast run through of the fundamentals of clay play - making a snake (rolling it), making a face (then destroying it), making a dog (or some kind of quadruped, then destroying it), and, finally, don't eat it (she didn't).   We both enjoyed playing, and it's something we can go back to any time there is time to use.

Then we put it away.

I put her to bed that night.   It's at this time that I like to run down the major events of the day, giving her a narrative of everything that happened.   It's a nice memory jogger right before sleep -- the time of day when everything we learn is written into long term memory.   It's also a great distraction when I sense she's getting fussy.

So, the conversation went like this...

Dad: Do you remember playing with modelling clay?
Lily: Huh?

Dad: The modelling clay?
Lily: Huh?

Dad: Remember when we played with the clay?
Lily: Huh?

Dad: Remember we molded it with our hands?
Lily: Huh?

Dad: Remember playing with the Play Doh?
Lily: Yea

So, it's Play Doh after all.