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How to Dry Clay for Kids' Projects

Kids love projects that involve clay; they get to make a mess and, at the end of the project, they've made something that's, hopefully, worth keeping. Clay can take a long while to dry naturally -- perhaps several days, and kids aren̵7;t that patient. At school they get to put their clay models in a kiln, which dries the clay at the perfect temperature and strengthens it. However, it's possible to use your own oven as a kiln to dry out your children's clay.

Things You'll Need

Oven
Metal baking tray
Aluminum baking sheet

Instructions

- 1
  Turn on the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This will dry the clay safely and help strengthen it.
- 2
  Line a metal baking tray with a sheet aluminum foil. Put your children's clay models on the aluminum baking sheet.
- 3
  Place the tray into the center of the oven. Leave the clay models to dry for four hours, or until they're completely dry.
- 4
  Turn off the oven. Leave the clay models in the oven ̵1; preferably overnight ̵1; while the oven cools.
- 5
  Remove the clay models once the oven is completely cool. Your children can now paint their models.

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