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[AmyKidsCo]

Do you separate your children for activities - like only doing art with one at a time or only allowing 2 children in an area at once?

My children always want to do everything together so I've always let them, but sometimes it's challenging to provide 5-6 sets of materials so everyone can participate at once.

[rmc20021]

For arts/crafts we always do everything together as a group...sometimes they have to wait a couple minutes but I feel it helps teach patience. It would definitely take all day to do one project if I split them up and ony did one or two at a time.

[Meeko]

It just depends on what we are doing. I do whatever I need to do to keep the chaos at a minimum!

[MarinaVanessa]

All of my kids except the 1 year olds and younger do art and craft activities together. I set out the materials ahead of time (a lot of redirecting when I'm doing this, they all get curious and want to see what I am doing) and have specific spots I have them sit at. The younger ones sit closer to me and get "special" supplied. Like is we are cutting the really young ones get scissors that only cut paper (won't cut fabric, little fingers, hair etc) and let them have at it. At that point the procesa is more important than the product anyway so they can doodle, cut up and glue on whatever they want anyway. The older kiddos sit at thr same table but away from smaller, wandering little hands that may touch or destroy their project or take their supplies.

[Blackcat31]

We have group activities where all the children as a large group are included.

We also have small group activities in which no more than 3-4 children can do the same activity at one time.

For art/craft time that I facilitate, I have the older group as one group and then do the younger group at a different time.

Usually the older group has a facilitated art/craft time 2-3 times per week where as the younger group only gets a facilitated art/craft time 1-2 times per week.

Non facilitated art/craft time is when ever anyone at any time wants to use the art materials and be creative.

I do try to keep ALL groups (other than the one large motor activity) to no bigger than 3-4 kids max.

HTH

[Laurel]

It just depends on what we are doing. I do whatever I need to do to keep the chaos at a minimum!

Me too!

I have tried different ways. Sometimes we are all around the table but younger ones are in a high chair and older ones at the table. High chair children may or may not be doing the same thing depending on their ability.

I will also take advantage of any unusual things that happen. For example, if one wakes up from nap early I might just do his with him then. That way he is quiet and won't wake the rest. I don't let them get up way early but like 15 or 20 minutes or so. Or if I have a slow eater, I might let another child do his art so we are all together in the same room.

Laurel

[Laurel]

Do you separate your children for activities - like only doing art with one at a time or only allowing 2 children in an area at once?

My children always want to do everything together so I've always let them, but sometimes it's challenging to provide 5-6 sets of materials so everyone can participate at once.

We might all be in the same room/area but doing different things depending on abilities and attention spans, etc. with the mixed ages. I just kind of focus on everyone being happy and getting some art done of some kind before the day is over.

Lately I found something that really works well. I call it 'fake arts and crafts'. One little one was too young to be given a bottle of glue but wanted it badly so I closed it and gave it to her along with some paper. She 'thought' she was gluing and was content. She wasn't old enough or wise enough to get it open and didn't know the difference. Works with pens too depending on how the pen works.

When I had a larger group, I would put them all in high chairs and do it that way so they wouldn't be climbing up and down in their chairs, taking each other's things, etc.

Laurel

[youretooloud]

We usually do two or three at a time. If a few kids want to do the project again, I usually have them come back after the others are done, then they can do art til their heart's content.

Most of our art is open ended though, there is no final product in mind, so it's not a problem to let them have at it. If I had a special craft with a final product, I wouldn't allow them to just do as many as they want.

[My3cents]

It depends on what we are doing and how detailed the project is, and how much I have my stuff together. I try to leave little time for boredom from wait, but it does happen and it does teach. It also drives me batty in the process.

I usually do group and include the babies to be with us. I have started babies out with crayons younger then one, all depends upon the child.

Sometimes I want to do one on one with a child. How did I get the child to paint a rainbow- I cut the pieces up and we did one color, one child at a time- until I had all the pieces to put together to form the rainbow that the child actually painted- very cool- kids loved this. Doing one on one while the others free played in my sight line, made me able to help the child more and they loved having me one on one.

Group projects- I prepare, sometimes I give them a bucket and crayons for each child, sometimes I put a bucket to share on the table, sometimes I pick out just the colors I want to have used on the project, sometimes I let them pick whatever they like. This applies to markers, paint, pencils, stickers, cut out pictures, play dough whatever the medium being used.

I love art, all art- I love open ended, and I also like a project we all make- I like to do art with my kids as young as possible. Babies always get their hand printed just like the rest of the kiddo's.

My advice to you is to do what works best with the group that you have. Try different things to see what works and what doesn't.

Once my kids know it is ok to get dirty and messy and create,that is when they take off with it. Before then, they will not do much. I tell them you will wash, glue won't hurt you. Once they know it is ok to make a mess, that we will clean it up later they enjoy.

Have fun~

[daycarediva]

We have group activities where all the children as a large group are included.

We also have small group activities in which no more than 3-4 children can do the same activity at one time.

For art/craft time that I facilitate, I have the older group as one group and then do the younger group at a different time.

Usually the older group has a facilitated art/craft time 2-3 times per week where as the younger group only gets a facilitated art/craft time 1-2 times per week.

Non facilitated art/craft time is when ever anyone at any time wants to use the art materials and be creative.

I do try to keep ALL groups (other than the one large motor activity) to no bigger than 3-4 kids max.

HTH

this exactly! I have 6 kids age 2-5 every day so I just split them in half (by who works best together) for most activities that require assistance.

With my group/all 'older' kids, and only 6 of them, depending on the activity, they can usually handle the whole group participating and waiting turns. EXCEPT for the light table. Man, let the fighting commence. ::

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

It depends on the activity. Certain things I will take them one at a time or a set number. Sometimes 6 is too much. I will also redirect kids tht aren't playing nicely together to different areas of the room.

[mema]

Depends on the activity and the group I have. Right now I only have 3 ft and 1 of them is an infant, so we usually just do it all together. When I had a bigger group of 8-9, then we normally would divide up. I had a few that didn't get along so great, so I tried to keep them in separate groups for my own sanity!