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Hi! I'm looking for ideas for small arts & crafts projects suitable for children under 6? Has to be something they'd mostly be able to get on with themselves (with some help from adults), doesn't require specialist equipment or material and that won't take too long to complete. If you know of anything your own child has done or think they would enjoy, please share your ideas here. Thanks!

Why???? - more details needed please

Are you, by any chance, touting for ideas for "parents like us" 2012?

If so, how about a bit of honesty and a visit to the paid for non member request section

great minds think alike DCDO - thats pretty much what my instinct was screaming too - too vague to be a real parent looking to occupy DCs

cheeky so&so

Apologies, but can see now I have posted in the wrong place! We were just looking for a bit of parental help with ideas for our free arts and crafts area for our next festival. We're a charity and a lot of our activities are the result of parental suggestions and involvement. Thanks for tips on where post should actually go on Mumsnet!

oh, thats fine, it did sound as if you might be looking for additions to a book or something, as most parents give details on ages/interests etc

as its for a charity craft stall I can pass on a few ideas which have been tried & tested & successful at fetes I've been involved in

1. Mask decorating - you buy blank white masks - Economy of Brighton have the cheapest I know of - the kids decorate them with poster paints & glitter and adult is on hand with a glue gun to help add a couple of coloured feathers, bigger sequins etc etc ( you can get these from Economy cheaply too - let them know you are a charity for a discount )
If budget is an issue, you can do the same sort of thing but using white paper plates - with added elastic thread & cut out holes for eyes.

paper flower making - tissue paper & those green sticks for gardening - which you can pick up in garden centres or pound shops if you are lucky

biscuit decorating - get parents etc to donate plain home made ginger biscuits - give out a tried & tested recipe & as for cut shapes if possible - you'll get a mix that way - provide runny white icing, cake toppings such as mini jelly sweets, sprinkles, glitter, chocolate stars etc etc - Morissons or Azda have these at good prices - - you can also include colured icing (though best with natural colours) - use ols bun trays as paletes to keep the colours seperate - let the kids loose with paint bushes to paint on icing & drop their chosen decorations on - as you can imagine this one is VERY popular.

pomander making - provide each DC with an orange, - then have bowls of cloves for them to poke into the orange in their chosen pattern, provide ribbons, sequin trims etc to finish off & make hanging loops

hope that helps a bit

sorry keys sticking - OLD bun trays, - ASK for cut shapes - I'm sure theres more but I'm sure you'll work it out

Thanks very much for your ideas. All help is very much appreciated!