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Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
7/04Bride
member
Do you ever do arts and crafts with DC?
7/04Bride
member
I gave DS crayons to "draw" with one day. I had to work to keep them out of his mouth and he banged them on the paper a bit, so I actually had some of his artwork to hang on the refrigerator. I bought him Crayola Tadoodles to try, too. Besides that, we've dyed Easter eggs together. I like some of the craft ideas that BabyCenter sends out in e-mails, but I wonder if it's pointless to be doing any of this stuff this early. What do you think? If your DC likes doing stuff like that, when did you first notice the interest?
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Re: Do you ever do arts and crafts with DC?
Hayden just turned 15 months, and I think she is still to young for that kind of thing. I'm still trying to get her to sit still for book.
I give crayons to DD to color with sometimes and I let her play with stickers (put them on another sheet of paper). I've tried finger painting with her once.
Coloring is just annoying because I can not keep the crayons out of her mouth (we have the tadoodles too) or she picks at them with her fingernails, then eats it off of her fingers.
Daycare does a lot of crafts with her. I think it's a sensory thing for them too, so I definitely don't think it's too early.
We color together, but I have to show her what to do. She likes it when I draw something and then she scribbles over it. I buy non-toxic crayons so I don't stress if she eats some. The valedictorian of my high school class ate a green crayon every day in first grade, so I'm not going to sweat it.
She also likes play-doh, though she eats that too. I tried it just to see why she likes it so much. Very salty. She likes it if I make something and then she smashes it.
Bathtub crayons are a big hit. We draw on each other's arms.
I gave DS crayons one day to see what he'd do, and he did use them for awhile before trying to eat them, so now he 'draws' (I got him a big sketchbook) every few days with me or DH. If your DS isn't into it, I'd just wait a few weeks or a month and try again.
Making art is about the process of creating until kids get much, much bigger. I wouldn't stress about it, my niece is almost 3 and is just now getting into drawing...
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
We do a lot of art at home. DD loves to paint and draw with crayons. She is ok with it all so long as I watch her. We also sometimes use a glue stick and paper scraps to make a collage. And play doh. And yesterday we tried sidewalk chalk..
OK, so I do it a lot...lol! But I find it a nice change from just playing with her toys.
Yes we do crafts. They love to explore new things. There are a lot of great ideas at www.notimeforflashcards.com, just go to index then beginners for some ideas.
Fingerpainting - I put some non-toxic paint on a paper plates and put several sheets of paper with them in the bathtub. The mess stays contained and it's easy clean up afterwards.
Crayons - I don't mind if they eat it, they're non-toxic. They bang the crayon against the paper, but seem to enjoy it anyhow.
Markers - I use washable markers and mostly they color on their clothes and put the marker in their mouth. They bang the paper with it and seem to enjoy all the colors.
Dye easter eggs - we did it in the bathtub and they LOVED it!
'Cooking' - I gave them some pots and pans, put some dried oats and flour in bowls. They loved digging their hands in it. I just vacuumed afterwards.
Water - I fill the sink with water and give them different toys that float and sink. They like to play in it.