When Xi En was at the teething stage, we bought a Sophie the Giraffe for him. I wished that I had bought it for him earlier so he could have fully “enjoyed” it!

The friends from the same company – Sophie & Friends - sent along 2 pots of bright coloured modelling clay from Kanten Clay Studio. This clay is made in Japan using ingredients such as kanten (a type of agar agar/jelly), natural food colouring and brine.

The all-natural ingredients made it completely safe for young children and children with sensitive skin to play with. Even if accidentally consumed, it remains safe. Xi En licked his hands after playing when I didn’t noticed – this happen to many I am sure!

I love the little transparent pots they come in.

This unique product is quite unlike those oil-based clays in the market now. It does not stick to the table/floor & thus does not leave an oily mark after play time. I laid a plastic table-cloth on the table only to realise there wasn’t a need to!

The clay might seemed hard on the first touch. But after seconds of kneading and moulding, it is extremely stretchable and pliable.

We took out the “tools” from his other dough play set and allowed Xi En to cut, mould and spread.

Xi En enjoyed cutting and making “mee hoon kueh” (tearing the clay into flat noodles-like shapes).

Your child can make anything imaginable.

A tip here: you can buy baking moulds instead of play moulds. The baking moulds at Diaso cost only $2 for a big pack of interesting shapes!

Kanten Clay comes in 7 colours and you can easily make a new colour by mixing two or more colours together. Good to teach kids on concept of mixing colours too!

After turning 2 years old, Xi En is even more curious and active than before. Moulding clay “forced” him to sit still and play for a good 30 minutes. Experts (my mum for one) believe that such play brings out the creativity in kids and train patience at the same time!  

You can buy or read more about Kanten Clay Studio here.

GIVEAWAY!!

Sophie & Friends is kindly giving away Kanten Clay samples to one reader of this blog. Xi En enjoyed playing with this and we hope you will too!

To win this, please leave a comment on this post by next Monday, 15th August 2011. Winner will be picked randomly.