On the afternoon of December 29, 2023, the social worker of Baimiai in Yaohai District, Hefei City planned a unique and creative handicraft activity in Hongguang Street, aiming to inherit Chinese culture through handicraft, and more than 30 children and parents from Chengdong Street and Hongguang Street in Yaohai District participated in the activity.
At the beginning of the activity, under the guidance of the social worker of 100 Meters, everyone picked up the ultra-light clay in their hands and started their own creative journey. Some of them conceived on their own, discussed with each other, and creative sparks burst into the air. The goal was to create a dragon that came to life out of ultra-light clay.
The yellow-colored ultra-light clay was first chosen as the material for the dragon's body. Parents and children at the scene carefully rubbed into long strips to simulate the curves of dragons. Then, they carefully applied scales to the dragon's body, and then used a tool knife to press out the horizontal stripes to add texture. One child was particularly focused, kneading and embossing as if he were creating a priceless work of art.
After the dragon body was completed, everyone began to add wings and horns to the dragon. The red, ultra-light clay was cut into strips and attached to the dragon's back, like flaming wings. The horns are made of gray ultra-light clay, and the tail is made of blue ultra-light clay around the dragon's head. The shape of the faucet is even more delicate, the yellow clay mass is cut out of the mouth, the red clay is used as the nose, and the gray ultra-light clay is attached to the head, and the tail end is cut with scissors.
The most anticipated thing is the dragon's eyes and teeth. Everyone used tools to make holes in the clay to make bright eyes. The teeth are made of white ultra-light clay and carefully glued to the dragon's mouth. The red clay was flattened and stuffed into the mouth to become the dragon's tongue. At this point, a lifelike dragon is complete.
This handicraft activity not only exercised the children's hands-on ability, but also allowed them to experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture in the creative process. Looking at the dragons they made with their own hands, everyone's faces were filled with a smile of satisfaction and pride. The atmosphere of New Year's Day is stronger and stronger in this creativity and warmth.
This handmade activity ended successfully, leaving everyone with a precious memory and a respect for traditional culture. I look forward to more creative activities like this in the days to come, so that children's lives will be more colorful.