Arts & Crafts
All the Ways to Play:
These no-spill paint cups are great for containing the mess during arts & crafts time! Painting is a great way to practice holding and manipulating a writing utensil!
Functional Language: colors, paint, up, down, line, circleDid you know writing/coloring/drawing on a vertical surface increases hand and wrist strength?! This easel is perfect for holding paper steady while your little one creates, all while strengthening their fine motor muscles!
Functional Language: draw, paint, colors, moreThese short, safe, and chunky crayons are great for first coloring activities. Work on holding the crayons with thumb towards the paper and making 1-2 scribbles on the paper. Start using around 12 months!
Functional Language: scribble, hold, color, draw, colorsWork on fine motor strength and coordination, as well as bilateral coordination (using two hands together) by peeling and placing stickers on a piece of paper. If your little one needs help, begin to peel the sticker then hand it back to them and see if they can finish pulling the sticker off of the pad. Great for 2+ years.
Functional Language: peel, stick, press, helpToddlers (3+ years) are ready to practice using scissors, and these are a great first option! Practice making snips in smaller pieces of paper so it is easier for your little one to manipulate.
Functional Language: scissors, cut, hold, snip, open, closeKeep these smocks with your crafts to help keep your little one’s body and clothes mess-free while they are getting their hands sticky and colorful. These are also a great way to sneak in some dressing skills as your little one practices taking the smock on and off.
Functional Language: on, offMessy play is great for learning and sensory exploration! This brand is 100% non-toxic and edible, made with organic vegetable ingredients and free of many major allergens. So yay, mouthing safe for all ages.
Functional Language: touch, paint, messy, colorsStamps are a great way to increase hand-eye coordination and fine motor strength as your little one presses them down on the ink pad and again on the paper!
Functional Language: stamp, push, down, on, off, moreKeep your painting, coloring, and glueing mess off of your table with this silicone mat. This mat provides a great visual for your little one on where their “craft area” is. It’s easy to wipe, roll up, and store away when you are finished.
Functional Language: mat, craft area, clean upDot markers are a great first writing tool to introduce to your little one (1+ years) since they just have to touch the marker to the paper to make a dot. As your little one gets older, you can draw small circles on the paper and have them try to make dots inside the circles.
Functional Language: dab, dot, colors, press, up, downThe perfect mess-free option to coloring and drawing, and great for practicing isolating pointer finger. Use water to make designs and pictures on the doodle mat, then watch the creation disappear as the water dries. Use again and again!
Functional Language: draw, line, circle, color, wet, dryColoring pads are great for working on coloring in the lines (or attempting to!). Practice following directions by telling your little one to “color the…,” then pause and let them find and color in the animal or item you said.
Functional Language: color, draw, “color the…”
How to Set the Play Scene:
You have all the arts & crafts supplies, but how do you set them up for play? Our Ways to Play Guides can help with that!
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If your little one loves arts & crafts, be sure to check out our music, rainbow & sensory table pages, too!
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