Arty stuff

[Fuschia]

One of my children (just 4) spends all her time drawing. We have gone from licking all pens away to avoid boys drawing on the walls to actually leaving a small box out.

This is all a bit new to me. What sort of art materials might she like ... Any arty classes or holiday activities, that sort of thing?

Thanks

[Pickle]

Both of my older kids are drawing mad, so we have a large art box plus a selection of other stuff available to them at all times. I have separate boxes for felt pens, crayons and colouring pencils, plus a drawer full of colouring books. In a large storage box I keep a supply of paper, we cut the front off cards and pop them in (great for them to then cut up and use for other things), stickers, stamps, pipe cleaners, and a variety of other "doodle drawer" type stuff.

They will literally spend hours sitting creating things, it's fab.

I draw the line at paint, but as they get to do painting at school I figure they're not missing out!

Might be worth looking into the Artastic holiday club? I'm thinking about booking my kids in for a couple of sessions in the holidays.

[Fuschia]

We do have most of things, so I can't be too bad a mother :-)

Just wondered if those who more accustomed to the 'sitting quietly being creative' sort of life had some inside knowledge that passed me by.

Let me know if you go for artistic, could send my little ones along at the same time

[susyp]

Think I have mentioned before on here a couple of websites with cheap arty stuff so apologies if so - - crafty crocodiles and yellow moon. I try and keep a stock of sticky things etc which work well for playdates for making pictures.

susypx

[Jessie]

I have a v creative boy - I save all the safe and clean(ed) recycling for him, with some child-friendly scissors, some non toxic glue and paint - let him go mad. Newspaper on the floor (mostly...). I'm perhaps one of the messiest people in the world, so I think the fact i don't stress about the mess he makes helps him (and my sanity).

He's going to Artastic every Wednesday through the summer holidays

[nunheadmum]

My girls LOVE the sparkly stick on jewels that you can get at Yellow Moon / Baker Ross. My 4 year old loves cutting (and has thankfully got good sense as to what can and can't be cut) while my 6 year old has always been more into drawing and colouring.

You can get good mixed art boxes - we were given one but think Argos do a good one in their 2 for 15quid selection:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3846395/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CToys+and+games%7C14417629/c_2/2%7C14417629%7C2+for+15+pounds+on+Toys%7C15052090.htm

Maybe get something like this and see what they respond to.

It's great if they do get into it - my 2 can entertain themselves for hours with creative stuff. Would love for my eldest (& youngest!) to do the Artastic days but eldest always too shy to go on her own and never manage to work it to go wtih friends.

Have to agree that painting is for special occasions (especially if they go to nursery and get it there).