| Crafting with young children really isn't about | | | | well.5. Salt Dough Sculpture: Make a batch of salt |
| creating something in particular. Most young | | | | dough and turn the kids loose with it. You don't |
| children don't have the foresight to see what a | | | | have to worry about them eating it (it's safe and |
| project is going to be.For young children it's more | | | | tastes terrible) and clean up is easier than play |
| important that they have the opportunity to play | | | | dough. If you want to keep their creations, let |
| and experiment with art. Kids need to use as | | | | them dry overnight and then paint them the next |
| many of their senses as possible to get the most | | | | day.6. Toe Painting: If it's a warm summer day, |
| out of crafting. This allow them to try new | | | | put on the swimsuits, put some finger paint into |
| sensory experiences, as well as learn causal | | | | pie tins, lay out large sheets of poster paper, and |
| relationships.These are my 10 favorite crafts for | | | | let them 'paint' all afternoon. They will have a ball |
| little kids based on all that AND the 'fun factor.'1. | | | | and all you have to do is hose them off when |
| Finger painting: Finger painting is a wonderful | | | | they are done (that's my kids' favorite part |
| activity for kids. It lets them 'feel' the craft as | | | | actually!)7. Found Object Art: This project is |
| well as be creative. You don't have to have finger | | | | always a sure thing because kids love to 'discover' |
| paints to do this activity with kids. You can finger | | | | things. Let your child gather up leaves, sticks, |
| paint with homemade paint, watercolors or even | | | | flowers, etc. and then glue them onto a piece of |
| mud. You can also experiment with adding | | | | paper. When they are done, let them tell you |
| other things to the paint such as sand or glitter.2. | | | | about their collection.8. Peanut Pictures: Every kid |
| Yarn Painting: Dip pieces of string or yarn into | | | | loves to play with packing peanuts -- but it makes |
| paint and then drag it across the paper to paint | | | | such a mess. Let them create pictures with them |
| with it. It's a good experience to paint with | | | | instead. Kids can draw on them, glue them to a |
| something other than a brush and you can just | | | | sheet of paper, or glue the peanuts to each other |
| throw the yarn away when finished.3. Q-Tip | | | | to make a sculpture. The kids will love it!9. Sticker |
| Painting: Use Q-tips to create a painting. There are | | | | Play: Turn your child loose with a bunch of |
| lots of ways to use a Q-tip - scrub, dot, or use it | | | | stickers, markers, and a sheet of paper and let |
| like a brush. It's a good coordination exercise | | | | them create. It's good for little ones to work on |
| because Q-tips are small around, but it also | | | | their coordination, and it's fun!10. Stamping: Kids |
| provides a lot of interest for the child.4. Glue Art: | | | | love to use any kind of stamps. My favorites are |
| Draw squiggle lines on a piece of paper or let the | | | | the self-inking stamps or the double-sided markers |
| child use their finger to make random glue spots | | | | with the stamps on one end. This may sound like |
| or patterns on a piece of paper. Experiment with | | | | pure play, but is also teaches young children cause |
| adding different objects to the glue. Sand, glitter, | | | | and effect. |
| cotton, yarn, feathers, and tissue paper all work | | | | |