How Often Do You Do Arts And Crafts?

[DaycareMom]

I was just curious how often people do arts and crafts or projects with their dcks.

I have 2 one year olds, 2 two year olds, and 1 three year old. With the different age groups it is hard to do themes or projects. They color almost everyday and we do painting at least once a week and usually only do a special project for holidays.

How often do you do arts and crafts projects? Any easy ideas to do with the variety of ages I have would be appreciated as well. Thank you!

[Sunchimes]

I haven't had any luck getting my 17 mo olds to color. They pound on the paer with the crayon then try to eat it. I've put them away for another month, then we will try again.

We do art projects on major holidays. I can't wait until we can do them more often.

[laundrymom]

Never, we do no art projects. I give them materials and let them go. Daily.

[wdmmom]

We do projects for holidays and we try to do some kind of craft/art activity once a week although time doesn't always allow.

[melissa ann]

We do a little craft everyday. I also have a box of odds/ends/scraps from previous projects that the kids make their own creations from. During school hours I have 1 3yr old, 1 4 yr old and 1 almost 5. I don't always do craft for the SAgers.

Here's my childcare fb page with some of our crafts

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Missys-Childcare/368013833212739

[melskids]

I only offer process art.

I REFUSE to do ANY crafts that take me more time and work to accomplish then the kids.

Art materials are out and available to the children throughout the day to choose to do when and how they wish.

I stay VERY close to the little ones, until they can fully grasp how to use materials properly, and put things away.

By 2, they are fully using the art area on their own.

I dont mean to keep putting in shameless plugs for my blog, but its easier for me to answer then typing it all out again. So, here it is, if you'd like to read it....

http://mountaintopdaycare.blogspot.com/2011/12/holiday-crafts.html

[Blackcat31]

Never, we do no art projects. I give them materials and let them go. Daily.

same here.

[Blackcat31]

I only offer process art.

I REFUSE to do ANY crafts that take me more time and work to accomplish then the kids.

Art materials are out and available to the children throughout the day to choose to do when and how they wish.

I stay VERY close to the little ones, until they can fully grasp how to use materials properly, and put things away.

By 2, they are fully using the art area on their own.

I dont mean to keep putting in shameless plugs for my blog, but its easier for me to answer then typing it all out again. So, here it is, if you'd like to read it....

http://mountaintopdaycare.blogspot.c...ay-crafts.html

Oh my Mel! Your little ones covered in red shaving cream (?) are adorable!! What fun!! Makes me want to jump right in and get my hands all foamy too!!

I lovethis it!!

P.S. your blog is worth pushin'

[daycare]

3 days a week.

[SilverSabre25]

We do occasional "projects" but mostly I choose one material a day and let them use it. I have quite a few to choose from.

[DaycareMom]

This is great! Other than paper and crayons/markers/pencils/paint - what materials are you giving them?

[Blackcat31]

This is great! Other than paper and crayons/markers/pencils/paint - what materials are you giving them?

In my art area we have,
glue sticks, scissors, scrap paper, stamping pads and stampers, stencils and rubbing plates, pom poms, wiggly eyes, glitter, stickers, tape and staples, water colors, glue dots and misc paper and old magazines.

[melskids]

paper (a couple diff kinds), crayons, markers, colored pencils, stencils, rubing plates, scissors, glue sticks, rulers, hole punchers, stamps and stamp pads, printing materials, water color paint, oil and/or chalk pastels, bingo dabbers, a bucket of scrap paper, cardboard, recycled stuff like TP tubes and egg cartons, collage materials...pom poms, pipe cleaners, foam shapes, all sorts of scraps....clay, playdough, and all the tools for that, and a woodworking bucket with tons of wood pieces.

There is also always paint at the easel.

other stuff gets rotated in....like fingerpaint, shaving cream, magnet painting, other types of specialty markers, or tools, and the hot plate.

The hot plate is a warming tray that I cover with foil, and as the kids draw on it with crayons, they melt. It's really neat. Then they rub a paper over it to make a print.

We also have....wait for it....hot glue guns.

Not only to they hold wood and cardboard together better then regular glue, we even have glue guns we put crayons in!!! They make awesome pictures!

And honestly, I dont let them use the glue guns until about 4 or 5 years old, I completely trust them to use them properly, and I still stay right with them.

Oh, and BTW blackcat, thanks!

[SilverSabre25]

I can't let my group have free access to anything, but I have do-adot markers, ink stamps and pads, stencils, rubbing plates, collage stuff, dry erase boards and markers, paints of various forms...

[Greenplasticwateringcans]

I give the kids free reign with selected crafting material daily. A lot of the time I give them themed material to work with (decorating Christmas trees for example) but they are the creators of their art. I hate, with a passion, children's cookie cutter "art".