How Often Do You Do Group Crafts?

[Jo123ABC]

I have 8 kids ranging from 2mo. to 5y. Crafts are so difficult to do with the 1 year olds who want to be included but are all over the place! We try to do something for most holidays otherwise I occasionally will be brave and do "free painting" or coloring with crayons, stencils, colored pencils. I usually end up sweating with a headache and I even have a designated art room area that I use to keep everyone contained :: so we don't do it nearly as often as I'd like to (for the older kids).

[ColorfulSunburst]

here we do a lot of art projects. Kids also have everything for free art. I like to do group art projects.

[Josiegirl]

I'd've been grabbing myself a spoon at naptime and to heck with raw eggs; that's just a scare tactic anyways to allow moms to eat the cookie dough and keep little ones out of it.

I currently have a dcm who likes to pass on ideas she's seen. I used to be sensitive about it and assumed I wasn't doing enough. But then after being here, I started thinking, what a great idea for you to do at home!!

That said, I'm lucky if we get 1 craft done a week. With a toddler and a crawler, it's tricky to keep their hands out of things.

[KSDC]

I guess it depends on your definition of craft.
We do some type of hands are experience every day. Some days it is as simple as blank paper and crayon. 2-3 times a weeks I get out more involved activities.

Yesterday the table was covered with markers, crayons, scissors, glue, sequins and jewels, ink pads and stamps... The children picked what they wanted to create.

We do free-style art a lot. But, I feel that arts and crafts don't all have to be free expression. Sometimes I use art time to work on following directions and doing things step-by-step. I believe that those are important skills to learn, too.

As for cookie-dough mom, I agree with PP, take it. If you have time great, if not send it back home that night. I like when my parents choose to donate supplies. Occasionally I will have a parent come in with a ream of paper or a big box of crayons, or once even several boxes of Do-A-Dot markers. They know we do a lot of art and I love when they donate for the good of the cause!

[KayB]

I'd've been grabbing myself a spoon at naptime and to heck with raw eggs; that's just a scare tactic anyways to allow moms to eat the cookie dough and keep little ones out of it.

I currently have a dcm who likes to pass on ideas she's seen. I used to be sensitive about it and assumed I wasn't doing enough. But then after being here, I started thinking, what a great idea for you to do at home!!

That said, I'm lucky if we get 1 craft done a week. With a toddler and a crawler, it's tricky to keep their hands out of things.

I agree with Josie!! I would be grabbing that dough faster than she could blink an eye and have me a happy time at nap time ::
As for crafts I used to stress about doing one every single day! After 20+years I have learned to let it go and just do what I can and go by how the kids are being that day.

[hwichlaz]

My curriculum has 20 per month, but we generally only do 2-3 per week. I have tons of file folder games I’ve made over the years, and I laminate the games that come with the curriculum to keep. We use those a LOT. We use playdough a lot as well as kinetic sand, and water play.