Young creators
The younger members of your club will be more than happy to squidge their fingers through some soft dough and you should provide plenty of it, along with tools and accessories for the purpose. Early Learning Centre's Soft Stuff is an old favourite and the range has been extended to include lots of new tools and cutters. Soft Stuff comes in primary, 'brights' and pearlised colours. Each tub contains 200g of dough and a set of three pots is priced 3.50. A Bumper Bucket of Soft Stuff which contains 15 packets of sausage shaped dough in six bright colours is priced 5. Alphabet shapes, rolling pins and dinosaur cutters are among the accessories available.
* Telephone 08705 352352
Philip & Tacey also stocks a large range of modelling materials and tools, starting with colour dough and progressing to clay kits suitable for older children. An Elements colour dough pack contains eight 300g tubes of bright coloured, soft dough, priced 5.50. Among the tools available are farmyard cutters and 'accessory tubes'. These tubes resemble plastic syringes with a variety of different nozzles: two triangles, two stars and two strings. Priced 2.95 per pack.
* Telephone 01264 332171
To add some sparkle to the proceedings you may want to try NES Arnold's new Glitter Dough. This comes in a 2.5kg resealable tub of four colours - turquoise, yellow, pink and green, and is priced 4.50. NES Arnold also stocks old-fashioned Plasticine for those of you who wish to travel the nostalgic route. A 10kg economy pack containing 20 500g packs in ten assorted colours is priced 25.95. A bumper set of 24 plastic cutters is priced 7.95.
* Telephone 0870 6000 192
Salt dough is a natural 'bridge' between soft dough and clay. It has the same soft and pliable qualities of soft dough but can be baked in an ordinary oven or microwave (once water has been added) to produce hardened models. A 2.4kg tub is priced 6.75 from Philip & Tacey.
* Telephone as above
Hands of clay
Clay is less predictable and less stable than dough which is why it is more exciting for children to use once they have gone beyond the dough basics. However, not many after-school clubs are lucky enough to have ready access to a kiln and even older children can lose enthusiasm if they have to wait a week for their efforts to be fired before they can complete their work. A good compromise is to work with some of the air hardening clay products available.
Galt's new Air Hardening Clay can be used without firing or add-on hardeners and is available in a choice of five colours. The clay comes in 2.5kg resealable tubs in terracotta, yellow, stone, blue and red, priced Pounds 4.50.
* Telephone 08702 424477
And new to Philip & Tacey's modelling range is a set of Clay and Paint Pattern Rollers. The set includes two handles and four interchangeable rollers which will produce a whole range of designs when used with clay or paint. 3.99 per set of four.
* Telephone 08702 424477
Darwi Air Hardening clay is a good introduction to working with clay for children who are ready to advance but are not quite ready for potter's clay and wheel. This clay hardens at room temperature and can be sandpapered or cut, as well as painted and varnished. A 500g pack in either white or terracotta is priced 1.50 from Philip & Tacey.
* Telephone as above.
Perfect pottery
The next step up is via a material like Newclay. For this you won't need a kiln but you will need to use hardeners for the clay to remain stable and hard enough to keep. Newclay requires two hardeners: Number 2 is mixed with the clay before it is used and Number 1 is dissolved in water and painted on to the surface of the completed objects. A 12.7kg pack of Newclay is priced Pounds 6.49; Hardener Number 1 is priced 4.50 and Hardener Number 2 is priced 3.99. The Newclay Activity Pack gives advice about materials, equipment, how to prepare the clay, how to make thumb pots, bowls and tiles, and how to join wet and dry surfaces. It is priced 13.05. All from Hope Education.
* Telephone 08702 433 400
Easy art
There are nearly always some in a group who are not confident about handling changeable materials. These children should not be made to feel excluded from artistic activities. You can provide materials which will exercise creativity without frustrating anyone. Mod-Roc is a plaster-impregnated bandage which comes in workable strips. Once these have been immersed in warm water for a couple of seconds they can be squeezed gently and layered on to a shape. When dry they are 'rock hard'. A 14lb pack is priced 21.95 from Philip & Tacey.
* Telephone as above
On a smaller scale, but none the less absorbing, is a range of 'Mould & Paint' kits from Great Gizmos. The Mould & Paint Fridge Magnet and Badge Moulding kit contains six different moulds and enough materials to produce 12 badges or magnets. Available in Ocean, Space or Garden themes priced 4.99. A Mould & Paint Clock kit, containing a plaster, mould, clock movement and six colour paints, is priced 11.99. A Paint Your Own Mask kit containing a moulded mask, six colour paints and brush is 3.99. All available from Mail Order Express.
* Telephone 0870 129090
Masks are also available in assorted skin tones and ready to be decorated from Step by Step. A pack of ten masks, containing two of each skin tone, and with a reel of elastic for children to try them on, is priced 5.19.
* Telephone 0845 300 1089
TIPS FOR SOFT DOUGH
* Despite the fact it is not a 'permanent' clay, most doughs will stain and mark clothing, so use aprons or smocks for modelling sessions.
* Ensure children wash their hands before, as well as after, using the dough because any dirt or grease they bring to the session will harden and impair the dough.
* Being wrapped in a warm damp towel for ten minutes can often retrieve dough which has hardened.
* If you run out of dough mix four cups of self-raising flour with one cup of salt and a few drops of food dye or powder paint to colour, plus warm water to mix.
TIPS FOR CLAY WORK
* Don't just allocate one session: let children know you have planned several consecutive sessions to finish work in and stick to the programme.
* Some children dislike the feel of clay; have plenty of wet wipes ready and don't force their involvement.
* Keep some clay in a hidden reserve for when children clearly have to begin again.
* Provide plenty of cover-ups as clay can cause permanent stains to clothing.
