Getting started with crafts for children

There is nothing more special than receiving a handmade card or gift from a child. Whatever they create, the result will be unique and making it provides lots of fun, learning and healthy mess!

Crafts do not need to be expensive as most of the basic items you will need can be found around the home or garden. All it takes is a bit of imagination! Before you start, get everything together that you are likely to use.

You will need:

Basic materials

Paper - nearly all craft ideas require paper of some form. A selection of the following are always useful to cut, scrunch and fold: coloured paper, card and tissue, crepe paper, patterned paper, wrapping paper, scrap paper.

Paints and pens - chalk, crayons, pencils, pens and poster paints are good for most crafts. Look for non-toxic and washable varieties.

Glues - PVA glue is the safest and most suitable multi-purpose glue for children's crafts because it is non-toxic, dries clear and is washable.

Tip: For tissue or crepe paper use stick glue as PVA dissolves them.

Collected items - there is a huge range of craft materials available to buy for children's crafts, but you can easily keep your budget to a minimum by using what you already have at home, find outdoors or by recycling.

From home: pasta - to thread/stick, rice, lentils, potatoes - for printing, straws - to blow paint, cut up and thread, stick in collages buttons, beads, thread, wool, fabric swatches, ribbon, lace, paper plates, greaseproof paper for tracing, cake cases.

From outdoors: pebbles, shells, twigs, leaves to print with, flowers to press in a flower press, acorn and pine cones, feathers.

Recycled items: cereal boxes, egg boxes, toilet rolls, jam jars, tins, fruit and vegetable trays, lolly sticks, corks, bubble wrap, sweet wrappers, newspapers, magazines, wrapping paper.

Specialist items - to add a special finishing touch you can buy the following from most craft shops: glitter, stickers, googly eyes, pom-poms, pre-cut foam shapes, decorative scissors and punches, pipe cleaners. Specialist items are particularly good for children as the give instant results.

Basic tools and practicalities

Scissors - choose plastic safety scissors for young children

Apron - or Dad's old shirt!

Messy Mat - or a wipe clean table cloth.

Tip: Keep a supply of baby wipes or kitchen roll handy for really messy crafts!

Drying - allocate a space to put the craft item while the paint drys or glue sets.

Tip: Peg paintings to a washing line while they dry - they will be out of reach and will dry quickly out in the air.

Storage - you will always need a place to store the many treasured pieces of craft that children produce! A cardboard box or a scrapbook are great ways of keeping these crafts as children can decorate or cover these too! When an item is finished, put the child's name and date on it.

Tips:

Choose crafts that are relevant to your child's interests - seasonal ideas always work well.

As a child's attention span can often be limited, prepare to do a number of craft ideas at any craft session. It takes time getting everything out and clearing up at the end so it's best to make the most out of every craft session.

The main thing required from you is a lot of patience!!

Get inspiration from:

Books:

Creative Crafts for Kids: Over 100 Fun Projects for Two to Ten year Olds by Gill Dickinson and Cheryl Owen

Crafting with Kids: Creative Fun for Children Ages 3-10 by Catherine Woram

Craft Activities: 50 Fun and Easy Things to Make by Various

Green Crafts for Children by Emma Hardy

Shops:

Local art and craft shops are good sources of supplies. Visit:

Hobbycraft tel: 0800 027 2387

WHSmith tel: 0870 444 6 444

Early Learning Centre tel: 0871 231 3511