One preschool-aged child took an interest in the clay we were using to make stamps. We demonstrated how to take impressions of objects and she quickly began experimenting with different textures on her own. She smiled as she explored the materials and soon her younger sister joined in as well. Together they investigated the textures around them and found their own ways to engage with the activity.

Our activity this week was to use plasticine for printmaking and stamping. But the children’s curiosity took them beyond what we had planned. Their curiosity asked us to adapt to what they wanted. We communicated with them by narrating what they were doing and with nonverbal cues. We smiled and nodded to communicate our encouragement of their process. The little girl wrapping the objects in plasticine would look at us to grab more objects for her to wrap and to provide her with more clay. From this experience, we learned to focus on co-constructing the activity with the children.