Soap Carving is an excellent way to introduce woodcarving to children.
It's fun and kids get a finished project quickly...which encourages them to
do more. Adults with arthritis or similar conditions can also enjoy soap
carving, because soap is very easy to carve and does not require strength.
We generally recommend soap carving for children under 12, because
handling sharp knives can be dangerous. A child's hand and arm muscles
are not usually strong enough to have good control of the knife. Most
woodcarving accidents occur when you are not paying attention to the
position of your fingers relevant to the position of the knife or when you are
trying to cut too deeply or using too much pressure. Small children have
difficulty understanding these concepts.
Wood carving takes patience and persistence. Young children have short
attention spans. They need projects that are simple and they need a lot of
praise for their "finished" pieces...even if they don't look finished to an
adult eye. Remember that a child's view of the world is vastly different
from an adult's. Put their masterpiece in a prominent place in your home!
With practice, your child's work will steadily improve. Who knows? Your
budding little soap artist might be the next Michaelangelo!
Soap Carving with children at the Niles, Michigan Bluegrass Festival 2009
Soap Carving Fun - info at Ivory Soap website
Carving Institute - soap & foods
Soap Carving Gallery - Flowers
You Tube Video - Carving a flower in soap
Hint: Do a search for "Soap Carving" in You Tube - lots of videos to view!
It's fun and kids get a finished project quickly...which encourages them to
do more. Adults with arthritis or similar conditions can also enjoy soap
carving, because soap is very easy to carve and does not require strength.
We generally recommend soap carving for children under 12, because
handling sharp knives can be dangerous. A child's hand and arm muscles
are not usually strong enough to have good control of the knife. Most
woodcarving accidents occur when you are not paying attention to the
position of your fingers relevant to the position of the knife or when you are
trying to cut too deeply or using too much pressure. Small children have
difficulty understanding these concepts.
Wood carving takes patience and persistence. Young children have short
attention spans. They need projects that are simple and they need a lot of
praise for their "finished" pieces...even if they don't look finished to an
adult eye. Remember that a child's view of the world is vastly different
from an adult's. Put their masterpiece in a prominent place in your home!
With practice, your child's work will steadily improve. Who knows? Your
budding little soap artist might be the next Michaelangelo!
Soap Carving with children at the Niles, Michigan Bluegrass Festival 2009
Soap Carving Fun - info at Ivory Soap website
Carving Institute - soap & foods
Soap Carving Gallery - Flowers
You Tube Video - Carving a flower in soap
Hint: Do a search for "Soap Carving" in You Tube - lots of videos to view!
| Council Oak Woodcarvers Club |
SOAP CARVING
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