The modeling mass is an excellent educational game. She will save parents in rainy weather or when the baby is tired of all his toys. The creative process captivates the child for a long time, carrying a lot of useful skills and abilities.
What?
Plastic, soft mass for modeling perfectly "obeys" in the hands of the baby. It looks like plasticine, although it is softer and does not harden from low temperatures.
But there is one weak side - drying, so after playing it is necessary to place it in a special container or bag in order to preserve all properties, but this feature is the guarantor of the strength of the finished toy.
It can be reanimated by adding water and stirring.
Also, multi-colored elements and pieces do not stick together, therefore, when sculpting, you need to create a complete figure. Presented in a wide variety of colors, additional shapes and tools.
Benefit
The modeling mass has many positive aspects.
- Training and development of fine motor skills and, as a result, improvement of the speech apparatus;
- Development of artistic taste and self-expression;
- Activates spatial imagination;
- Calms the nervous system;
- Enhances brain function and thinking ability.
Kinds
The mass for modeling is presented in several options, which differ from each other in some properties.
Self-hardening baby paste in the air
This type of paste dries quickly, half an hour is enough. You can notice this by the lightening color. The toy becomes strong and not subject to temperature conditions. It can be painted and painted. Weak side - fragile product can crack and crumble.
Quick dry
Dries in layers: two hours are enough for the top layer, and inside the product dries from 12 to 24 hours, it all depends on the indicators (thickness, size and temperature and humidity in the room)
Non-solidifying
It has a special composition that allows it not to freeze in the air for a long time, so it's not scary to forget to close it, because it will not lose its properties. However, if you forget about it for a week, then its quality will decrease. You can "revive" by adding warm water and "conjuring" with your hands.
Transparent
The mass is original in its color performance and pleasant appearance, similar to caramel. An interesting property: if the mass is well kneaded and crumpled strongly, then bubbles can be blown out of it.
Sets with molds
They differ in the presence of different shapes, additional stacks and stamps. Diversify the activities of the child. You can cut interesting shapes (geometric, stars, hearts, houses) or create drawings from the mass using stacks and stamps.
Composition
The modeling mass consists of natural ingredients, therefore it is suitable even for babies. The main components in all brands are the same - soda, flour and salt, but each adds its own dyes and flavors.
Salt is a preservative for preserving the sculpting mass and is a good ingredient to keep the child from trying to eat it. Due to its consistency, it does not stick to hands and does not stain surfaces.
The composition of the "brothers" of the mass is somewhat different - polymer clay, plasticine mass, plastic clay, plastic. The unnatural composition of these species is recommended for adults. They all consist of PVC and a plasticizer, which gives elasticity. To obtain the final product, polymer clay must be heated to 100-130 degrees. There are also quick-drying types - plasticine, plastic clay. The composition may differ in some components and their quantity.
Colors
The color range is wide and bright, because children love it when the color of the toy catches the eye. This includes all the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, and all outgoing hues. The transparent sculpting mass is original and interesting. It can be colorless and with the same wide variety of colors as ordinary. Looks like colored glass or caramel. If you want an unusual color, you can knead two different pieces together and get the effect of a fantasy or marble pattern.
How to choose for kids?
The main thing in choosing a mass for children's creativity is safety and naturalness.
Pick up a mass with a neutral and the safest composition, without unnecessary additives. Be aware that high levels of preservatives and color additives can cause allergies.
Look at the appearance of the mass - it should be homogeneous, without unnecessary grains and inclusions.
It's good if the mass is in a bag - you can touch it and look at its properties. Most often, the packaging is not allowed to be opened, so you need to try to determine everything by eye. An additional plus if the packaging allows you to catch the smell. The sharpness and plastic tint in the scent should alert you when choosing. Choose a set with additional shapes, stacks. So, the sculpting process will become exciting and informative for the baby.
How to use?
The instructions for sculpting from the mass are somewhat different from the usual plasticine.
- Create a comfortable playground for your baby - dry and lighted. Cover the surface with an oilcloth or sculpting board. Arrange the jars in an accessible place, explain to the baby that you need to take a small amount of mass and close the jar after each portion taken.
- First, let your baby “get to know” the new texture. Let him remember her, try to tear off a piece, mix two colors, knead. Then you can teach how to make crafts - from the simplest to the most complex. The easiest way is to make solid one-color crafts - balls, houses, cut out molds. For complex pieces, follow the steps.
- Create all the elements of the craft separately, but do not let them dry, otherwise it will be difficult to connect them. If this happens, water or PVA glue will help.
- Gather the "parts" together by firmly but gently pressing and securing them together.
- Let the resulting toy dry.
- Rejoice and use.
- Teach your child to clean up after themselves - close the mass in jars, clean up the workplace. If suddenly the mass turns out to be loosely closed, then it can be reanimated by spraying with water.
What can you blind with your own hands
Sculpting from the mass is a sheer pleasure. It is pleasant to the touch and pleases with the color scheme, so you can create and implement any ideas - toys, jewelry, animals, flowers. Suitable accessories and elements can be created for different purposes and game moments. To play in the kitchen or cafe, you can mold sweets - cupcakes, cookies, cakes, and if it is a pizzeria - pizza of different colors used to create the filling, you can also choose different colors for sculpting sushi.
For story games, tropical animals, figurines, forest animals, letters are suitable. As a gift, you can mold your favorite cartoon characters, interesting figures, options of different colors, ornaments.
You can try to roll the mass with a rolling pin, cut out figures using molds, create stamps, create volumetric products in deep molds - in this matter, everything depends only on your imagination and desires.
Manufacturers
The modeling mass is recommended for children from 1 year old. The most popular manufacturers are the following brands.
- Play Doh. The brand is number one in terms of its popularity and variety of choice. The multitude of shapes, stacks, colors will surely attract attention. They are safe and environmentally friendly, have story-driven game lines - ice cream, cake, pizzeria. Sold individually and in color sets from 6 to 10 jars. Recommended for children from 2 years old.
- Jovi. Cold plastic for children from three years old. There are 15 colorful colors that can be mixed. The mass or paste freezes in a day and allows you to create bright and interesting toys.
- Bubber. Safe, hypoallergenic, pleasant to the touch, the paste deserves praise and many positive reviews. The composition contains ceramic spheres, which impart special softness and lightness to the material, and this is what affects its high price.
- "Kalyaka-Malyaka". A Russian brand that rightfully deserves high marks. It is aimed at the smallest users. It is as safe and neutral as possible, does not contain unnecessary dyes and is not harmful. Developed under the supervision of teachers and psychologists. The most popular by reviews and choice among parents.
Modeling mass is not only play material, but also an educational, developmental process. A lot of interesting interpretations, colors, shapes - all this will surely attract the attention of a child and an adult, because playing together is much more interesting.
For information on how to make a safe sculpting mass at home, see the next video.
