I have seen on here that alot of you guys allow your dcks free access to aet supplies. how do you do that and not have a constant mess with toddlers involved? were do you leave all the supplies? how does this work. we have tried this the past few days but have had a huge issue with the 17 month olds despite direct supervision. also the kids go through so much paper it seems like a waste after the 5th page.
Free Access To Art Supplies
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I absolutely do NOT allow free access to any art materials and if I did, it wouldn't be to children under the age of 3 so I'm not much help to you there.
I can't imagine allowing children under age two or three free access to any art supplies.- Flag
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I do allow free access to a limited amount of art supplies. Not paint of course but paper, crayons, scissors, tape, glue and markers. I have them all out on the table at all times and kids come, make something, then take it home at the end of the day.
I just expect the kids to respect the materials and they do. If they're doing something I don't allow we talk about what is allowed. But mostly I don't have any problem with it.
I had a mixed age group 1-5 year olds. The 1 year olds mostly liked to take the tops off of the markers and put them back on againha ha! Everyone else just uses the materials appropriately. I keep an eye on everyone at all times of course and if the littles go to use the supplies I go supervise.
Materials stay on the table is the #1 rule and everyone seems to understand that just fine.- Flag
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I'm in the middle.
Crayons, colored pencils, watercolors, and paper are on the shelf available to all. The youngest that can realistically get at them is 19 months. I have a pretty young group.
When he goes for the art supplies, I tell him "we only color (paint) at the table. Let me help you".
Then, I help him get in his booster seat, he colors, eats a little crayon (alternative: he paints a little on the paper, then on his face), crumples some paper, and then he's done. I write his name on it with narration, and we move on.
Rinse and repeat....- Flag
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I have open access to most of the kids.
I can't pinpoint an age as all of my children have different personalities.
I have a 2 year old that can use it but a 4 year old who can't. The 4 year old still has not learned we only color on paper and scissors are for only cutting paper. So that 4 year old can only use the art supplies when I am there to 100% supervise.
I look for their ability to use the stuff appropriately. Once they show me that they can, I let them go for it.- Flag
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I have open access to most of the kids.
I can't pinpoint an age as all of my children have different personalities.
I have a 2 year old that can use it but a 4 year old who can't. The 4 year old still has not learned we only color on paper and scissors are for only cutting paper. So that 4 year old can only use the art supplies when I am there to 100% supervise.
I look for their ability to use the stuff appropriately. Once they show me that they can, I let them go for it.
My group is mostly younger ones (19mo, 19mo, 2, 3, 4) but I have supplies out at all times because this group is really good about using them properly. I have paper (I cut in 1/2 or 1/3 so that it lasts longer, my kids also LOVE to color on the newspaper so I use that too and we recycle paper that they just color one or two lines on back into the bin to reuse), crayons, pencils, markers, glue, scissors, tissue paper, paint, brushes, q-tips, and mosaic pieces.
When the 19mo olds were a bit younger everything had lids (I use plastic containers for most supplies) so it took me to help them and we worked together on how we use the material and where. Just recently the lids came off most things (the mosaics and scissors we're still working on) and they have free access. The older kids can get the lids off themselves.- Flag
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I don't. I hate arts and crafts. They require too much adult for me.- Flag
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I limit the number of "creations" or sheets of paper each child can use. It's important to help kids learn to be thoughtful in their choices and not waste. They'd use a ream of paper each every day if I let them.
As for the art supplies being out... ALL my supplies are out and available at all times. I have an 11 month old walker and a new 1 yr old non-walker (one girl; one boy)
Neither touch the shelves or supplies on the shelves. I honestly don't know why it works for me but it does. I think it has a lot to do with the babies having both been with me since early infancy and they are both usually just super busy playing with other stuff.
I also have a rule that the furniture and shelving units in the kitchen/dining room area (which is where all art gets done at) is OFF limits to the babies to hang on to while learning to stand and walk ... I never allow them to use chairs/shelves or the table to pull themselves up or to hold onto while stepping.
So far I haven't had an issue with any of the kids having free access.- Flag
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All of my art supplies are in a closet. If the kids want to use them, all they have to do is ask. I could never allow free access.. it would be a disaster. And there is also a question of whether or not the time is right.. they do their projects at the kitchen table and sometimes the table is busy with kids doing other stuff.- Flag
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I have free access however, you must be a certain height to ride that ride :: my school agers have free access, my toddlers don't ever grab anything but paper, and that doesn't even really happen, the only ones who play with the art stuff tend to be my school age girls, and I think since my art supplies have always been there, there is no novelty to them. My preschoolers can grab the markers and paper, I have small craft containers of sequins, jewels, feather, foam stickers, and most they can all reach but no one EVER takes them out, unless they are actually taking them out to use them for a project. My big paint bottles are out of reach, but I have smaller ones within reach, little containers with screw off lids, that just hold a small amount, and I always keep a vinyl tablecloth on my kitchen table, so they can always paint on it. And again that paint is just out of reach of the littler ones.
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I do not have free access to art supplies but they get a wide variety of experiences at various times during the day. I probably could leave items available except I have twin boys (2) that I have a hard time leaving toys open and available with. I am praying that sometime this winter they settle down a little bit more. When I got them in the spring they were wild boys that seriously one bucket of toys was too much. THey just ate crayons. It really wasn't their fault. The previous provider always kept them in something. Mom works with them and really tries. She is young and has another son (5). But, they are starting to play better. But art supplies out.. eek no. I am good for 5-10 minutes with them buckeled into booster and constant supervision and usually an extra set of hands.
That said, I think my kids get a lot of time to paint, color, write, play with play doh etc. And this time of year, a lot of sensory stuff outside.- Flag
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I had free access when I had all 3-4 yr olds. Truth is I think my two's could handle this, my under two's maybe.
I just don't have the desire to deal with it with this group, so I don't!
The two's and up have free access to paper, oil pastels, and playdoh. They still ask if they can use these, except my almost five yr old-she uses whenever she feels like it. She also has markers, scissors & glue.
I get out lots of open-ended supplies each week. I feel they get lots of opportunities!- Flag
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I have seen on here that alot of you guys allow your dcks free access to aet supplies. how do you do that and not have a constant mess with toddlers involved? were do you leave all the supplies? how does this work. we have tried this the past few days but have had a huge issue with the 17 month olds despite direct supervision. also the kids go through so much paper it seems like a waste after the 5th page.- Flag
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