Daily Arts/Crafts

[DaycareMom]

When you do your daily arts/crafts - is it open art or do you do a project?

Do you even do arts/crafts daily?

I usually do open art almost daily and only do "projects" for holidays.

Was wondering what the rest of you did.

[AmyKidsCo]

I have drawing/coloring supplies available all the time. I also plan an art "experience" every day, although if they're engaged in something else we may not get to it. Most art is open-ended but I do one craft or project (aka parent pleaser) a week.

[Blackcat31]

I have 95% of my art supplies out and available for use at any time.

I do a planned or structured craft anywhere from none to 5 times a month.

Just depends on the season and how often I 've been on Pinterest

[daycare]

When you do your daily arts/crafts - is it open art or do you do a project?

Do you even do arts/crafts daily?

I usually do open art almost daily and only do "projects" for holidays.

Was wondering what the rest of you did.

structured art is only on wed and fri....

rest of the time its open choice free art....however, most of the kids hardly touch it

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

My goal is something to reinforce the story or concept that we are working on daily. Sometimes it is open ended, sometimes a craft. However since I have been overwhelmed with 2 yr olds, that doesn't always happen. I have the twins being dropped off at 10:30 so if we go outside before lunch we don't have much time. My kids color, playdoh, or something like that everyday.

[Oneluckymom]

I have 95% of my art supplies out and available for use at any time.

I do a planned or structured craft anywhere from none to 5 times a month.

Just depends on the season and how often I 've been on Pinterest

Blackcat...at what age do you think its ok to have the supplies left out for use. I have two 3 year olds, a 1.5, and 2 year old. Im worried my supplies would be taken all over my room with the 1.5 year old. Any thoughts?

[MarinaVanessa]

I have 95% of my art supplies out and available for use at any time.

I do a planned or structured craft anywhere from none to 5 times a month.

Just depends on the season and how often I 've been on Pinterest

Ditto here too. Most of mine are open ended but I do crafts on occasion also because I can use the craft activity to help them practice cutting skills and other things. It's never more than maybe twice a week at the most, if that.

[Oneluckymom]

I have drawing/coloring supplies available all the time. I also plan an art "experience" every day, although if they're engaged in something else we may not get to it. Most art is open-ended but I do one craft or project (aka parent pleaser) a week.

::::love that!!

[AmyKidsCo]

Blackcat...at what age do you think its ok to have the supplies left out for use. I have two 3 year olds, a 1.5, and 2 year old. Im worried my supplies would be taken all over my room with the 1.5 year old. Any thoughts?

I was wondering the same thing. I have three 4 yr olds (each of which will use an entire glue stick a day if I let them) two 2 yr olds, and a 10 mo old who is in the 100th percentile for height and literally as tall as the 2 yr olds.

I'm just not comfortable leaving scissors, glue, or paint out where the 10 mo old could reach it. And if I put it up so he can't reach it, then the 2s can't reach it either. He can also reach onto the table to grab anything the older ones leave near the edge.

[blandino]

We have a structured preschool program, and do art Tu-Fr, everyday after story time. Of the 4 days I try and make 2 open ended and 2 projects. I am getting better about incorporating open ended art into the projects. For example, today I had planned to make butterflies since we are doing a garden unit. So I cut out the general shapes, and gave the kids the materials to decorate and assemble them. So it wasn't such a step-oriented project. I have a hard time with process art, but am really making a focused effort to get better.

I will be honest and say that we have no art supplies out in the open. I am not sure how you ladies manage that one. I have tried and tried to imagine it working for us, and I just can't fathom it. The closest they come to being able to draw at any time, is two magna doodles that are velcroed to the table.

[LK5kids]

Almost all open ended art, but right now I have 2 two yr olds and a 14 mo. for art time. I left markers, glue, scissors, scrap construction paper, & some collage materials out when I had all 3/4/5 yr olds but not now.

[snbauser]

I have a majority of my art materials out daily. I do open-ended projects once or twice a week and maybe one craft a week.

[crazydaycarelady]

I have:
7mo
three 1yos
three 2yos
three 3yos
two 4yos

No way on God's green Earth am I leaving any art supplies out!

[blandino]

Almost all open ended art, but right now I have 2 two yr olds and a 14 mo. for art time. I left markers, glue, scissors, scrap construction paper, & some collage materials out when I had all 3/4/5 yr olds but not now.

That makes me feel better. We only take up to age 3 (some who have just turned 4, but no older), so that would probably by why I couldn't imagine doing it with my group.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

I don't leave out supplies- I just don't have room. I offer them at various times throughout the day just like they can't go outside whenever they want, they can't have art supplies (or musical instruments) any time they want either.
I have littler ones too. MWF I have one 3 yr old and four 2 yr olds. T TH I have 1 yr old, three 2 yr olds, 3 yr old, 4 yr old. I have a two year old set of twins that have had no boundries! They ate crayons when they first arrived at my house around Christmas time... they still regularly taste paint!