Arts + Crafts: Fundamentals Part 2

Space and Organization: My Story
      We set up an art area in a corner of our play room. There was the option to move into the kitchen or front hall area if needed, or even outdoors can be a great space for art. When indoors we did cover the floor using a tarp (this could be a large plastic table cloth) spread out under foot to catch messes and help with clean-up. By the way, we all participated in cleaning up – it wasn’t a "the nanny will do it" job at all. I recommend using paint shirts or cover-ups and wearing play clothes. I never wanted messes or the fear of making a mess to interfere with the fun and creativity. Dad’s old shirts make great art smocks – you can wear them button front or back and they are long enough to cover clothing.
     Materials were available to the children in easy to access storage containers (on their level if appropriate). This also helped with clean-up since everyone knows where materials go when they are done. A tub of crayons, another for colored pencils and a third for washable markers were always nearby. Depending on the age of the children the glue sticks were usually right there as well. We had a box with recycled paper which the children used for drawing or coloring. The area was set up “child friendly” and we encouraged careful use of all materials keeping waste to a minimum.
      I would rotate different materials in and out of our “art center” to keep things interesting and fresh but there would always be
 a variety items hand each day. Items in the rotation might include feathers, colored chalk, pom-poms, pipe cleaners, yarn, string, wiki-stix, stamps and stamp pads, stickers, shells or beads, buttons and so much more.

     Our easel was two sided and offered not only a painting option, but a white board and a chalk board choice as well. It was a quick set up for any of those options. The easel accommodated two rolls of art paper which gave us several options, but we also would use newspaper, newsprint and recycled paper at the easel as well. We also kept a child sized table and chairs nearby which expanded the opportunities for everyone to be engaged in some art project at the same time.

      Some materials such as paint, bottled glue, glitter, special papers, small beads, etc. were stored for adult only access. The children simply asked and the supplies were retrieved. It was a rare occasion that an item was denied to them – usually that was in relation to the fact that we needed to be leaving for some appointment and didn’t have the time to get it out and set it up. It was never about being too much “trouble” to get out. 
     Play dough or clay was also kept at adult level, but the “tools” for use with the clay or dough was in a container at their level. I can’t emphasize enough having a floor covering for enjoying dough. No matter how careful you play with it, it has a tendency to “travel” to the floor at some point. Rather than buy dough we usually made our own which is another great activity for everyone to participate in. Homemade dough doesn’t have the preservatives that the packaged dough does so it will get “old.” To keep it fresh longer make sure it is in airtight plastic containers. The tools for dough activities (cookie cutters, plastic knives, old kitchen utensils, small pastry rollers, old garlic press, etc.) need routine cleaning. Usually a tub of soapy warm water and a good rinse is all it takes – another great activity for everyone to do.