Do You Do Crafts With Infants?

[Blackcat31]

When my instructor was here observing me recently, I let my 14 mo paint with tempera. She wasn't sure of his age, but told me that "I think they are going to be changing that-and say that you CANNOT do art like that with under 1's." (implying FCCER's or Youngstar).

I said "well, he is 14 months...I thought they encouraged us to offer art materials early. Why do you think?"

"Because of that....(pointing to him putting paint on his mouth)."

What do you think, Crystal?

On the one hand, I'm not sure what he is getting out of it..crayons and paint still go to the mouth, even though I say "not to eat, dcb, on the paper"

On the other hand, I only offer him "non-toxic" activities, and it's still occasional, because I don't completely buy the "non-toxic" idea.

We are told we can do art like that with infants but that we should use other types of mediums such as chocolate pudding or applesauce etc so if (and when) they put it in their mouth, it is ok.

That concept confuses me though because the other gal we have that does the rating thing says we can't use food items in the sensory bin so ???

Food as art for babies is ok but not for older kids....:confused:

[Former Teacher]

When my instructor was here observing me recently, I let my 14 mo paint with tempera. She wasn't sure of his age, but told me that "I think they are going to be changing that-and say that you CANNOT do art like that with under 1's." (implying FCCER's or Youngstar)

Just yet ANOTHER ridiculous rule

[Heidi]

We are told we can do art like that with infants but that we should use other types of mediums such as chocolate pudding or applesauce etc so if (and when) they put it in their mouth, it is ok.

That concept confuses me though because the other gal we have that does the rating thing says we can't use food items in the sensory bin so ???

Food as art for babies is ok but not for older kids....:confused:

Food is a definate NO NO. Rationale: It sends the wrong message about food, especially in a world where there are hungry children.

Always makes me think of when your mom said "eat your dinner, there are hungry children in Africa"

Typical kid answer: "Well, then send them my brocoli"

Not making light of hungry children, and I wouldn't encourage pudding painting anyway, because I think it sends a mixed message about table manners (I'm a freak about that), but I WOULD allow pasta necklaces or rice in the sensory table, because in that context, I don't think children see it as food...unless I cooked the rice first...

[Blackcat31]

Yeah, I get the food thing...working with Head Start for many years before home child care gave me my fill about being PC and all....

I am just confused as to why we can do something in one context but then not another :confused:

....and I doubt that anyone puts the connection together that if we let Timmy paint with pudding during art time and then try and tell him he can't do it an hour later at lunch time, it creates a whole other set of issues that we now have to deal with.....

Some of these new rating scale rules seem to work directly against each other so we are darned if we do and adarned if we don't. *sigh*

[Heidi]

Yeah, I get the food thing...working with Head Start for many years before home child care gave me my fill about being PC and all....

I am just confused as to why we can do something in one context but then not another :confused:

....and I doubt that anyone puts the connection together that if we let Timmy paint with pudding during art time and then try and tell him he can't do it an hour later at lunch time, it creates a whole other set of issues that we now have to deal with.....

Some of these new rating scale rules seem to work directly against each other so we are darned if we do and adarned if we don't. *sigh*

Another example of that is the "wait time" factor. If the children need to wait to wash hands, for example, and the wait will be longer than 3 minutes, we are supposed to engage them in an activity of some sort....hopping to the bathroom, singing songs, etc.

Now...how do you think the kindy teacher will enjoy that? Our high-quality childcare program just sent them a pile of kids who don't know how to WALK QUIETLY down the hall, or wait more than 3 minutes for something.