The clay in every Family Series pack is FIMO polymer clay, from the FIMO Soft and FIMO Effect ranges. Klay Master tried a good few clays before settling on it for the school holiday workshops, and it is the one we would pick again for the kitchen table. It is bright, it behaves itself, and a child can go from a block of clay to a finished, glossy piece in about an hour, with nothing more than a home oven.
Why it suits small hands
Once warmed up, FIMO holds a firm but workable feel. That firmness is the point. Clay that is too soft or sticky slumps and smears, and a child ends up fighting the material instead of making something. Firm clay lets fingers that are still learning fine control press, roll and shape with confidence.
It also bakes in an ordinary oven, at a low temperature, so there is no kiln, no glaze and no waiting a week to see the result. If someone in the family catches the bug, polymer clay is a good foundation for thinking in three dimensions, and the skills carry straight over to bigger projects later on.
What makes FIMO different
Pieces that are pressed together fuse during baking, so ears, legs and tails stay put without glue. That takes a lot of worry out of a child's first model. The FIMO Effect range adds glitter and metallic finishes, and kids love the glitter colours in particular. The metallic and silver greys are a little firmer and need a bit more warming, so they are better for older makers.
The showstopper is the glow in the dark block, FIMO Effect Nightglow, which comes in every pack. Save it for the end. There is a whole article on that one: Embellishing with glow in the dark.
How it compares with other clays
Not all polymer clays are alike. Some brands are firmer and made for fine jewellery work, which is hard going for children. FIMO Soft and the soft FIMO Effect colours sit in the right place for kids, and are trusted by beginners and serious crafters alike.
Air dry clays are easy to find but tricky to join, and they need painting once dry. The puffy, foam style air dry clays are soft and fun, but too squishy to hold a shape. Ceramic clays, like white pottery clay or terracotta, are soft and sticky, need a potter's kiln, and come with the risk of a piece cracking or bursting in the firing. Wonderful for a workshop with a potter, and we hope you get to try it one day, but not an everyday activity at home.
Why it never goes tired
Natural clay gets tired. The more it is manipulated, the more it dries out, cracks and turns crumbly. Polymer clay, however, does not get tired. In fact it needs the heat of the hands to stay pliable, and that is the beauty of it. The more it is handled, the softer it gets, but it never goes too soft, never too hard, and never crumbly. It stays exactly where a child needs it to be, however long the session runs.
It also keeps. Anything left over goes back in its wrapper, or into a little bag or a jar with a lid, and it is ready for next time. There is no drying out, no need to use it all in one go, and the spare block in the pack is there for exactly that reason. Keep it somewhere cool and out of the sun and it will be good for months.
Warming it up
Every session starts the same way. Break the block into four pieces and roll each one into a ball between your palms until it feels smooth and warm. Younger children may need a hand with the first minute of this. In winter, a warmed wheat bag or a hot water bottle under a tea towel brings the clay back to life in a few minutes. Never use the microwave or the oven to soften it.
