Clay in the Early Years: A Reggio Emilia-Inspired Workshop

Workshop Description:

Clay is more than just a material, it's a powerful medium for expression, inquiry, and communication. This session will highlight how clay supports children’s creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration as one of the 'hundred languages' of learning.

Participants will engage in practical experiences with clay, learn how to create meaningful clay provocations, and explore ways to document children’s learning through this versatile material.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Confidently use clay as a tool for exploration and expression in early years settings
• Design and set up developmentally appropriate and engaging clay experiences
• Understand the role of the educator in supporting and extending children’s clay investigations
• Make connections between children’s use of clay and key Reggio Emilia principles such as the environment as the third teacher, the image of the child, and the hundred languages

This workshop supports a reflective, collaborative approach, allowing practitioners to draw inspiration from each other and leave with practical ideas tailored to their own early years environments.