Craft kit for toddler

lilian1977

Hi

My DS is 20 months old and starting to experiment with paints/chalks/crayons at nursery. Obviously he's not old enough to really make anything yet but I want to start putting things away so we have a well stocked craft box by the time he's ready.

Can anyone suggest anything I can be saving now? I've thought of toilet roll tubes, empty cotton reels, string and straws along with cheap paints, brushes, crayons etc - and a plastic sleeved apron! Also colleagues at work are saving big sheets of packaging paper for me.

Anything else?

sethsgran

I would suggest chalks if you have a path or drive where you can safely play, obviously together.

lilian1977

Thanks, I will get some chalks. Anything else?

maryjanell79

I would start putting away yoghurt pots and and butter tubs etc instead of recycling them. They are great for making things or to use for paint and glue pots.

Also hold on to any birthday, xmas cards or wrapping paper you might receive as they are great for cutting up and making pictures with.

Also any other kitchen or household bits and bobs like sponges, old tooth brushes, cereal boxes, sweet wrappers etc.

tealeaves

In terms of paints, the paint pads in Elc are amazing! Really cheap and mess free too as the paint dries quickly, no spillage as its a pad, and you can get really detailed hand and foot prints! And washes off really easily!

Also, my LO loves the easy painters from Elc!

Play doh is another thing that is really good!

tealeaves

Also, I'm not sure if you're into doing keepsakes, things like that, however I've got an 'sketchers pad' it's bounded into a book so pages don't fall out and the paper is really thick so the paint doesn't seep through. Every so often, once or twice a month, my LO does a drawing/painting, whatever he wants and I date it. All it means is you end up keeping one or 2 pieces of art that they've done together and you can see how their drawing has developed from a few marks!

lilian1977

Thanks, some great ideas there! Hubby will be very cross with me starting to accumulate more clutter but never mind x

fuzzybear01

Googly eyes
Nice Wallpaper/gift wrap
Pipecleaners
Lolly sticks
Scraps of fabric
Cellophane from chocolate
Lids from pringle tubs
Flip-lid boxes (make great treasure chests)
Keep any old plastic party tablecloths and sheets for protective covers

My Son is 6 but recently we used cheap left-over grout to stick sequins, stones and crystals to the outside of a mirror. We also painted soe rocks from the beach with acrylic paint.

l0ubbl0u

I found the dab paints great in elc for when you don't want to get all the paint out. Stickers are great for them as well. Crafty crocodile is great for bits. Check which crayons you get as some need you to be firm to get a mark, not great when they are little.
At the same age ds decorated, well splodged some yellow paint on a star salt dough tree decorations that I gave to the family. It has now become a tradition and every year he does something different.

gibson123

Paper plates and cardboard from cereal boxes, plastic bubble wrap, tissue, the coloured plastic wrappers from sweets - like quality street and the plastic bit out of chocolate boxes, also coloured foil from choc bars.

lilian1977

Brilliant ideas! Going to write all these down and stick the list inside the box so I don't end up with a box full of toilet roll tubes and nothing else