In conversation with Clay: Touch, Imagination and Collaboration

At EtonHouse, learning is an explorative journey where ideas sparked in one space are expanded and transformed in another. Each encounter invites curiosity, exploration, and dialogue.

As leaders in pedagogical practices, we represent Reggio Children in Singapore and China through REACH (Reggio Emilia in Asia for Children). Through REACH, we create meaningful opportunities for dialogue, collaboration, reflection, professional learning, advancing research and innovation in early childhood education.

Recently, as part of an in-service training with Reggio Children, our educators had the privilege of deepening their understanding of the Reggio Emilia approach while enriching the learning experiences of our children. In one such experience, the children at The EtonHouse City Pre-School embarked on an exciting exploration of clay. Guided by pedagogista and atelierista of Reggio Children from Reggio Emilia, Italy, the children discover and listen to what this extraordinary material has to say.

It began with a touch. Maggie gently swiped her finger across the smooth surface, marveling at the trace it left behind. A quiet but profound discovery of cause and effect. Emily pressed her finger deeply into the clay, joyfully lifting a small piece to share. From these first gestures of exploration, ideas began to unfold.

Soon, the children began to move to intentional creations. Elodie pinched small pieces together and proudly shared, “It’s a snake!” Maggie followed, rolling her clay into long, winding forms, while Asya experimented with shaping a ball before stretching it into what she called a “boat”. As their confidence grew, so did their imagination.

Clay invites us to shape, reshape ideas and leave traces of our thinking. It also sparks dialogue, storytelling and connection. Rin and Asya began pressing their clay pieces together to create a “cake”. Their play evolved further as Rin pretended to slice the clay, and Asya chimed in "Cut the cake!” In this joyful exchange, the children transformed simple movements into shared meaning.

Tools introduced new ways of thinking and possibilities. When Mirella Ruozzi, Atelierista from Reggio Children, introduced the wire cutter, a new sense of curiosity filled the room. Children were invited to see, feel and transform the familiar into something new . Rin, curious but cautiously, took on the challenge. With focus and determination, she pushed the wire all the way through a thick block of clay and beamed with pride as she lifted the sliced piece. A dialogue between hand, material and idea.

In every press, roll, slice, and pinch, the children revealed their thinking. They explored balance, proportion and transformation, finding joy in the process of creation. Through clay, they learned that creativity is not about the final outcome, but about exploration, expression and creativity.

This clay encounter beautifully reflects our Reggio Emilia-inspired philosophy: that children are natural constructors of knowledge, resourceful, and capable of expressing themselves in a hundred languages. At The EtonHouse City Pre-School, we see every experience as an opportunity to make learning visible. When we listen deeply and offer open-ended opportunities to explore, children don’t just learn, they create meaning and shape their understanding of the world around them.

“Clay holds memory. It invites children to express what they see and feel. When combined with loose parts, materials become more than objects—they become storytellers.” Zoe, EtonHouse Educator.

Experience the transformative philosophy firsthand at The EtonHouse City Pre-School.