Clay has come a long way since the original potter's wheel of Mesopotamia. From damp boxes to throwing wheels to high-heat baking ovens, natural clay demands a lot of work. But in recent years, crafting clay has experienced a material revolution. Polymer "clays", made from plastic rather than soil, have made clay crafts approachable again, even for the busiest moms. Long-lasting, non-toxic, always pliable, and able to be baked in a standard kitchen oven without having its shape or size distorted, it's no wonder that polymer clays have become as popular as they are. Here we've sculpted some reviews on the best clays to keep your (and your children's) hands busy and creative. CiaraQ Polymer Clay Starter Kit (36 Colors) The Ultimate Crafting KitThis essential kit by CiaraQ contains high-quality clay, useful tools, and fun accessories to complement your crafternoons. Best OverallFind on Amazon Every mom knows that when it comes to a rainy afternoon, nothing beats a good old arts-and-crafts day. Craft projects are a great way to keep your babes entertained and to create lasting memories with them while you’re at it. Bonus points if you make something that you can give to grandma for her birthday, too. And so, with moms in mind, more and more companies these days are offering starter kits like this one by CiaraQ that contain everything you need to spend the afternoon crafting and laughing rather than hunting down potential “tools” somewhere in the back of your kitchen’s accessories drawer. This particular 36-color Polymer Clay Starter Kit comes with 5 high-quality sculpting tools and a series of accessories to help you and your kids make everything from jewelry to key chains to any characters your minds can conjure together. Pros: 36 color blocks (1 oz each) Comes with 5 sculpting tools, accessories, and a storage box Vibrant mixable colors Cons: When soft, the clay sticks to fingers and surfaces DeeCoo Polymer Clay Kit (70 Colors) Create with More ColorsLet your kids express themselves fully with this polymer clay starter kit by DeeCoo, which features 70 different bright colors and an assortment of accessories.Most ColorfulFind on Amazon When it comes to children’s activity sets, quantity is king. Every kid loves opening a gift and finding out that there are myriad more presents to open inside – most times, the little tykes can’t even count that high yet. The claymakers at DeeCoo decided to take this concept and take it one step further, making each of their 70 small, irresistible blocks a different color. With this impressive polymer clay set, you’ll instantly feel that sense of pride that only a brilliant present can evoke as your child’s eyes widen at the expansive, moldable rainbow before them. And the fun doesn’t end there; no, this kit also features a smorgasbord of tools and accessories including beads, bells, earring hooks, ring holders, mobile phone chains, and more. With this much variety and colorful assortment, we think the only problem you’ll have with this kit is resisting the urge to keep it all to yourself. Pros: 70 blocks of clay (1.2 oz per block) Comes with a huge assortment of tools and accessories Durable storage container Great cost value Cons: Requires a lot of conditioning to make the clay soft Tomorotec Super Valuable Polymer Clay Set (32 Colors) More Fun, Less CostSculpt, mold, knead, roll, squeeze, and eventually bake the clays in this colorful starter park – all without breaking the bank. Best ValueFind on Amazon Clay crafts are more than just a great way to keep your kids entertained – they’re also extraordinarily useful in developing motor dexterity and creative problem-solving. As the little tykes interact with the soft material, they also explore the limits of their own movement and abilities. Kneading, molding, rolling, and squeezing all use different muscles with the hand to accomplish different goals. There’s a reason why people have been getting their hands dirty with clay since the dawn of time. That’s why all you really need for the perfect clay-date is just a few blocks of colorful clay and your toddler’s curious hands. This simple polymer clay set by Tomorotec chooses to focus more on the experience of sculpting rather than on unnecessary features, abandoning tools and accessories in favor of more clay for a lower price. Pros: 32 blocks of clay (0.3 oz each block) Able to accept acrylic paint and markers post-baking Bright colors Low price point Cons: Blocks are difficult to open due to the packaging No tools included Sculpey Super Sculpturing Compound Sculpt SmartWorkable and durable for those small details, Sculpey Super clay is the perfect choice for older kids or parents with particular projects in mind.Best for Experienced SculptorsFind on Amazon The best thing about crafting clay is that it’s one of those unique activities that’s fun not only for your kids, but also for the person supervising them. One of the most fun parts of watching our babes grow up is experiencing them bring their creations to life; it’s also equally touching when we get to help them in those moments when they can’t quite make it work (with the added bonus of convincing them you’re an artistic genius just because you possess slightly more thumb dexterity). But as our kids do get older, or as we get more involved in their projects, we need to adjust our materials appropriately. While most of the clays we discuss here are designed to be super soft for your toddler’s gentle touch, more advanced projects require a slightly more workable clay. Sculpey is the household name when it comes to polymer clay, and this Sculpey Super version is specifically designed to be harder at the start, making it better suited to more finely detailed projects. With this one, you can count on the clay holding its shape all throughout the sculpting and baking process. Pros: Resilient to drying out Cooks stronger than other versions to avoid crumbling Holds any type of paint Cons: Can smell bad when baking (ventilation is recommended) Doesn’t come with tools ASYSY Polymer Clay Kit with Model Creation Book No Assembly RequiredThis all-inclusive kit comes with easy-to-use tools, a heap of accessories, and a book with sample ideas for inspiration for crafting fun right out of the box.Best All-Inclusive KitFind on Amazon While we all want to be that “super mom” that is always on, up, and ready for any curveball that our household pitches at us, the reality is that sometimes we need a break, too. That’s why kits like this one by ASYSY are a mom’s best friend when it comes to keeping our family entertained while we finally catch a break. In addition to a series of double-end sculpting tools, all kinds of different accessories, and a rolling pin, this great kit also includes a model creation book with easy-to-reconstruct characters. All you need to do is sit back and supervise as your kids get inspired and explore the wonderful world of ASYSY clay creation, and at this price point, we think that’s about as inclusive as you can get. Pros: 50 blocks of clay (0.7 oz each) Comes with a rolling pin, accessories, and tools Model creation book Great cost value Cons: Clay is very soft and oily (more for children’s projects) Frequently Asked Questions I keep reading that polymer clay is supposed to be really soft, but the clay I received is hard. What’s up with that? The blocks of clay do indeed arrive hard, and will likely harden later when not in use, but what is so cool about this type of clay is that you can make it as soft as you want by “conditioning” it. Conditioning in craft lingo means to make something pliable by working it with your hands. One way we like to do it is by first rolling the clay into a ball, and then a snake, and then folding it up again. Repeat until the clay gets to the right level of softness for your projects. How do I store polymer clay for future use? There’s only so much crafting your toddler can handle before their attention gets caught by something else. When that happens, you’ve got to do a quick clean up while simultaneously keeping an eye on the little tyke’s antics. Thankfully, polymer clay is easy to package away and store. Leave any unopened blocks of clay in their packaging as they arrived. For any opened blocks that you want to save for another afternoon, we recommend wrapping them in wax paper before you put them back in your storage bin, or better yet – stick the colors you really like in the fridge so that they retain their softness and malleability. Even though all these clays say that they are “non-toxic” are there any things I should keep in mind before letting my kids craft with them? By non-toxic, we mean that polymer clay is absolutely safe around children and pets in the same way that toy dolls, shower curtains, and all kinds of other plastic products are. That’s because polymer clay is made from a PVC base – one of the most commonly used plastics in the world. So like all other small plastic products, make sure your children don’t ingest it. While sculpting with the clay is A-okay, make sure that any tools used are washed before interacting with food and likewise with the baking tray (we usually just use foil or index cards to make sure the clay doesn’t touch our food trays). Lastly (though this goes for most activities), have your kids wash their hands after sculpting and before eating. Related posts:Powered by SearchIQ The Best Rubber Snakes Read more The Best Nylon Dog Bones Read more