Getting crafty with 1 yr old..?

[SnugLitttleBug]

Hi,
Not sure if this is the right place but just wondering if anybody has an ideas that can help me

DH is out long days and I'm trying to find more things to do with DS (13mnths) when DH goes back after new year.

I have some plans to go to baby groups and soft play centre, swimming etc. but I wanted to do some arts with him...struggling to find which pain I should buy though with him being so young. Does anybody have any recommendations?

And any other ideas other than painting/drawing would be greatly appreciated

Thank you!

[LIZS]

Try elc for finger paints but you'll need to have wipes handy. Sponge tipped brushes can be good for preschoolers but really he is a bit young for all this!

[SnugLitttleBug]

Sorry typo should say which PAINT lol

[Ohbollocksandballs]

I tried this with DS, all he did was try to eat the paint and then try to paint the (white) cat.

[imme]

I think at that age it's more messy play rather than crafts. One baby group I used to take my son to would sometimes put corn flour into a big shallow bowl/bucket and mix it with water and let the toddlers stir.

[jessplussomeonenew]

Try Asia Citro's blog Fun at home with kids - lots of fantastic ideas for play.

[HerrenaHarridan]

You can make your own paint with food colouring, flour and water. Then you know there's nothing in it going to do them any harm

I second the poster who said it's more messy play than crafts at that age.

Dd is 2.10 and JUST starting to really engage in a way that could be described as craft. I've been trying since she could sit up!

[SnugLitttleBug]

Haha yeah I suppose 'crafts' was the wrong word ...DH's cousin had her DS 4mnths before we had DS and at Christmas they made Christmas tree paintings which is what got me thinking about it... Definitely prepared for the 'messy' though. Anyway I found crayola do some chunky crayons and washable markers for 12m+ so going to try them

[Imeg]

I do 'drawing' with my 9.5 month old, in that he holds a felt-tip and I hold the paper (on a book or something hard) and between us some marks are applied to the paper! It is definitely messy and he does often try to eat the pen but obviously I closely supervise. But it's something different to do and I think he enjoys choosing the colours. It would be easier in the summer when I would just take his clothes off but as it is winter I put a thin plastic apron on top.

[Imeg]

PS I think the age guides on paints/pens are usually based on you giving the whole packet to the child (including eg lids), not the safety or otherwise of the actual paint ingredients.

[wheresthelight]

I bought dd (16 months) some chunky paint pens from our local poundshop the other day they look quite good so they might be worth a try?

dd loves crayons and chalks but tends to eat them a lot! have been recommended crayola twistables but not found any in shops yet although not looked especially hard

otherwise as others have said it's mostly messy play, the sponge discs from elc and other such are great for hand and foot prints, a roll of lining paper rolled out on the floor and helping them run/walk is always a winner

[FarOverTheRainbow]

I buy plastic table covers from the pound shop its a pack of 4 for a pound then for DD 1st birthday I put together a craft box which included paints, brushes with large handles, paint Stanmore type things which had big chunky handles for her to hold and then things like pipe cleaners, bobbles, glitter and tissue paper that she could feel a rip up, I would put a little glue down and use the pieces she's ripped to stick down for pictures for grandparents or the fridge

[Galvanized]

Kid safe paint is called poster paint, usually sold in big supermarkets and Wilko etc. Cut out a stencil and get them to paint over it.

PVA glue is useful too - rip/cut up scraps of paper for baby to stick onto card.

[Inkspellme]

try stripping him down to his nappy and sitting him on a waterproof sheet or the like on the floor. then give him some paints and paper and supervise him painting everything in sight. then he can enjoy a nice bath afterwards.

[jessplussomeonenew]

No longer on my phone so I can post a link:

www.funathomewithkids.com/2013/04/scented-homemade-edible-paint.html

Love the pictures too!