Paint, Play-Doh and Craft Time: Practical Ideas for Creative Kids

Prior to having our 2nd arrow, painting and playing with play-doh was pretty easy. I'd take one or the other out, we would get artsy, clean up and call it a day. But now with two creative kids and a baby hanging on my hip, I must be organized about how and when we have craft time. I should also mention, with one child we had the "personal" size for most items. Now with three we've moved up and have the "super-size me" amount. 

Here are a few tips and ideas:

*DON'T buy the small 2oz bottles of paint.

My little Picasso would ask for more paint, and I'd say something like, "use every last bit first and then I'll add more." I'm pretty sure I was stifling her creativity. I mean there's good reason not to waste paint, but my reasons were lame. 

*DO buy a painting palette. 

*DO super-size your paint style.

12oz bottles means fewer trips to the store or ordering online and more for everyone to enjoy.

*DO get brushes that work and don't shed, rip or break. 

We purchased these brushes on Amazon. They've lasted us quite some time. 

*DO expect a mess. 

You know the saying, "plan for the worse, hope for the best." This is a good time to apply that thinking. If not the mess will cause chaos in our hearts and make the whole time NOT fun. Set your kid up for success, be proactive; explain the rules for having craft time. I know lots of moms don't do crafts because the mess terrifies them. Don't shrink back in fear (see the last post) but be a fountain of joy for your family. And YES, this means even during craft time. Remember the other woman? She can laugh at the days to come.

*DON'T dress your kids in their Sunday best. 

Have them in clothing that won't make you cry if it gets ruined (FYI: paint should washable, but remember, PLAN FOR THE WORSE). If you need some added protection, use an art smock. There are tons of options. We received these as party favors and just love them; easy to wash, durable and quick to put on. I like to lay newspaper or even better, that brown-crinkled paper that comes in your Amazon shipments. I usually take that paper, straighten it out and fold it nicely to use for another time. This paper can even be used to paint on. Also, taping your paper to the surface being painted on is a good idea, this way you won't have your kids' work shifting around. 

*DO have a home to store your crafts. 

These shoebox size storage bins are practical. They fit in most places and stacking 2 or 3 at a time isn't a hazard. I keep the 12oz paint bottles in the small box they came in. All other craft supplies go into these storage bins. 

Quick note on play-doh:
 Cookie cutters are a great option for your little one to get creative. You can get a lot of variation using cookie cutters. Not to mention they are inexpensive. We purchased our 100 piece set for $10.99

Other arts and crafts that are easy, fun and borderline mess free are:

.

Do A Dot Art Markers

Melissa & Doug Water Wow

Melissa & Doug Color Blast

Melissa & Doug Color with Water Only

Hope this post helps you enjoy craft time a bit more. 

They are only little for a short time, and this kind of play won't last forever!

xo,

M.Y. 

Would love to hear from you!

How do you do craft time?

Any tips or ideas that have worked great for your family?