This week’s edition was suggested by a reader, Jenny-junebug, in the comments on one of my earlier lists:
Best Toys For The Holidays - Part I – Blocks
Best Toys For The Holidays -Part II- Dolls
Best Toys for The Holidays- Part III – Books
Best Toys For The Holidays - Part IV Cars, Trucks and Things that Go
As I once consulted for an arts and crafts company (working on a Lynette Jennings line of home décor products – remember her?) and have undertaken a number of crafting projects both during and since my Waldorf playgroup days, I felt fairly comfortable tackling this subject…until I started asking questions. Like:
Why do we buy our children arts and crafts supplies – besides to keep them busy for awhile?
What should we look for in an art or craft supply?
What do the experts say about children and art?
There are simply hundreds of options for arts and crafts supplies for kids. Many of them quite are quite good. Many of them are well made. Some of them are expensive kits that are used up quickly and replacement materials are difficult to find. Some of them are cheaply made and break after one or two uses.
How does one choose?
If you’ve been reading some of my posts tagged, Marketing for Moms, you probably have some idea of how products are marketed for children. That is, the focus is not necessarily on what is the best product for children’s development but rather, what is most likely to sell and sell again. This often means a glitzy, exciting art or craft kit that capitalizes on a current trend, has a limited use and increases a child’s interest in buying another kit.
Now, this is not necessarily bad…but should be considered whenever purchasing these types of gifts for a child. A gift of a craft kit this holiday season is bound to be used and forgotten by spring…just warning you…I often send kits to my niece but…know that they will likely be history by the next time I see her.
So, like most purchases for children, buying arts and crafts supplies takes a bit more thought than one would think …sigh.
OK, so here are several guiding principles to consider:
If a child is “artistic” – you might want to consider buying him or her “real" art supplies. Unlike those marketed for children, quality art supplies have richer pigments, smear less and apply easier. Using quality art supplies builds interest in art history, technique and the study of art.
- Good art supplies – pastels, pencils , charcoal
- Drawing books - for kids – For parents and kids
- Paints – watercolors or oil paints for older kids
If a child is a visual or kinesthetic learner, you might want to consider buying crafts that relate to what they are learning in school.
If your interest is in buying safe non-toxic natural supplies you might consider:
- Beeswax modeling material - brighter and more eco than traditional wax crayons – they do not smear or bleed. Beeswax comes in a hard strip that softens and becomes pliable when warmed in the hands -
- Beeswax crayons – purer, brighter and smelling better than traditional wax ones
- Natural Handwork and Felting supplies
If the child has a strong interest in handcrafts...
- Sewing Machine and supplies
- Quality Pottery wheel and clay – the cheap ones tend to not work well and fall apart so spend a little more for one that will last here
- Knitting crafts – knitting forks, finger knitting supplies, knitting spool (scroll down on linked page)
- Weaving Kit
Here are a few resource sites you may also want to review.
Institute that lists for non toxic art supplies
Some great Waldorf craft Books
Whew! OK-, I've done my part.
Now, what are your ideas?
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10 comments:
Excellent reference, I must print this out!
Good list, I think my kids have gotten many of those over the years.
I agree with you on these points. Excellent post. Have a great TT. :)
Textiles and handcrafts can be very useful for shoring up basic skills as well - anyone who has sewn a garment knows there are definitely spatial skills and spatial planning involved!
I don't really buy the kits so much as just the raw materials that can be used to make things like the kits, and so much more. For example, you can use sticky foam shapes to make gifts (magnets, picture frames), mosaics (math class - patterning, geometry) or to add a multimedia effect to artwork (art).
Instead of a "kit" for making a purse, I have yarn, material, buttons, etc. available which also stimulates a child's creative sense.
I ALSO highly recommend finding some books like "Things to Make and Do", "Crafts Kids Can Make", etc. so the children can leaf through and choose their own projects.
My kids love office supplies! Santa will be bringing them hole punches, blank address labels, hole reinforcement stickers, rubber bands, etc. They play post office, the other day they took some receipts from my pocket and made a play cash register with them, and they incorporate office supplies in their art. Sort of an art/craft/imitation play mashup! Cheap Target brand stuff works well.
These are all such great ideas! The beeswax crayons are a favorite with my little ones. I don't have to worry about the odd nibble and they don't break as easily when tossed on the floor. I also love your reference to felting. Making a wet felted ball is something even younger children can help with.
I agree with milehimama that the raw materials as opposed to kits are the way to go. My kids are still young, so complex projects are not an option. They like pasting so I maintain a huge box of collage supplies on hand - pine cones, feathers, bits of yarn, strips of fun fabric. They love finding new things in there.
It's also fun to get kids involved in crafts pre-holidays so they can help make gifts for friends. Making up a batch of playdough for a best friend is a great gift and a fun project.
Thanks again for lots of great ideas.
Thank YOU jenny-junebug for the idea.
I love all of these ideas everyone has. We too keep baskets of raw materials around: big box of fabric swatches (from an earlier textile manufacturer client, pipe cleaners, all sorts of empty boxes and ribbons, paper, etc. This was on the list at one point but....I had to delete a few to get down to 13!
Thanks for your great lists! Just want to let you know I've linked up to your site on my blog, The Parenting Project http://blog.masslive.com/parentingproject/2007/12/counting_down_and_stocking_up.html
Thanks!
Great list--thanks for stopping by to check out ours, too!
These tips on purchasing craft kits are great. Kids have such a short attention span that they will enjoy it for a short while and move on to something else. I think it is a great gift though...especially for the kid that has creative juices flowing in their blood. I remember receiving a couple of craft kits as presents as a kid and I enjoyed them.
I love kids! I have 8 nieces and nephews and I babysit them a lot. I am always trying to think of ways for them to have fun without tv or video games. Anyway, there is this really cool website that families can go to and check out together at http://www.kabillion.com/littledirector
This website allows your kids to upload their drawings they've made at school or home, animate them, and much more! The website is very kid-focused so kids have an easy time using it. I work with Kabillion and I just wanted to let you know about this great site you can check out with your kids. Check it out and let me know what you and your kids end up creating!
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