Toddler craft box - what's in yours ?

[givemecaffeine21]

I've decided I need to organise a proper craft box for my 22 month old rather than just crayons and a few stickers. What is in yours and where do you get stuff from? Shops or online? All ideas welcome!

[OutragedFromLeeds]

It's mostly just stuff from around the house at that age. We have milk lids, cardboard tubes, boxes of different sizes, tin foil, old xmas/birthday cards, sweet wrappers, just anything they can stick that looks/feels interesting.

Stuff that we've bought, mainly from shop, home bargains and wilko includes glue and spreaders, paint and brushes, felt, foam, eyes, pipe cleaners, feathers, paper plates etc.

[givemecaffeine21]

Thanks outraged - that already gives me ideas of what to start saving from around the house!

[HerrenaHarridan]

It's mostly recycling

Sweetie wrappers
Yoghurt pots
Tissue paper
Wrapping paper
Seed catalogue
Glue sticks

[HerrenaHarridan]

It's mostly recycling

Sweetie wrappers
Yoghurt pots
Tissue paper
Wrapping paper
Seed catalogue
Glue sticks

[DIYandEatCake]

The Works are good for cheap supplies of coloured paper, glue sticks, glitter, paint, sparkly bits, feathers etc.
The best thing we got was an easel (cheap 2nd hand) - painting seems less messy but somehow easier that way, dd doesn't get paint all over her arms, and there are trays to hold the paint.

[PollyCazaletWannabe]

How soon can you start with craft though snd how do you keep them focused?DP's DGS is 29 months and has in the last couple of months started to enjoy drawing with crayons, but he is equally likely to want to carry the crayons about, put them in his toy truck and give them a ride, 'post' them into boxes or put them in his mouth. We only bought him a set of crayons about 4 weeks ago and they are getting destroyed already. Is this normal? I'm worried about starting other craft with him in case the same happens. (Sorry for hijack OP)

[PollyCazaletWannabe]

Sorry, that should read 19 months not 29!

[OutragedFromLeeds]

It depends on the child really. Give it a try and see how he goes is the best way to find out. If you can take him to a playgroup to test it out and save yourself the mess, so much the better.

[ipswichwitch]

I save the shredded paper a lots of companies use for packaging material every time I get a parcel.
The big tesco near us has a pretty decent craft section so I just bung one or two bits in the trolley when I shop and we've now got a decent stash of stickers, paints, sparkly bits to glue on, etc.

[oobedobe]

I think when they are toddlers all they need are crayons, stickers, an aqua doodle, some plain and coloured paper and the odd painting session and playdoh . As they get older you can start doing more detailed crafts with little bits and pieces. Ours has evolved over the past 5 years (DD1 is nearly 6) and has all sorts in there, googly eyes, glitter glue, bits of material, fat markers, skinny markers, big crayons, little crayons, stamp sets, hole punch, beads, ribbon, craft scissors, old cards/envelopes - you end up with so much from people buying them stuff over the years and from birthdays/Christmas (art stuff is a great stocking filler), so don't feel you have to stock up much now, just get the box started and put a few things in there.

All kids are different regarding 'interest level' in crafts, but certainly you can introduce it from around 18 months, my nearly 2 year old will happily scribble in her high chair for a good 15/20 mins, I think if they are just breaking crayons on purpose I would stop the activity - my 5 year old loves crafts but probably didn't have much of an attention span for them as a toddler.

[ikeaismylocal]

We have block crayons, they were from a waldorf shop, they are great, indestructible and they work whichever way you hold them.

Another favorite is a big roll of paper, we take ds's clothes off, roll out a 2/3 meter bit of paper and put different coloured paints on plastic plates, ds steps in a colour and then runs up and down the paper. He also drives his plastic cars through the paint. It's perfect for active toddlers who like to use there whole body to do things.

Ds is 17 months.

[fififrog]

we love glitter and sparkly pompoms. crayola glitter glue is fab. cut up squares of tissue paper are very popular for gluing and DD has always liked stamping. get a big set of different types and sizes of paint brush - ours was £2 from Morrisons. she likes sticking leaves in the autumn.

[givemecaffeine21]

Thanks everyone - all very interesting. DD has only just stopped eating crayons to be honest at 22 months and there is no way I'm letting DS (11 months) near them! I like the aqua doodle idea.....

[MrsMeeple]

Waterpaints in the big circle chunks - six to a palette - don't know what they're really called.
Paintbrushes
Coloured card - we have a big stack of A6 that he can choose a couple from.
Kids plastic "can only and barely at that cut paper"
Junk mail catalogues
Glue stick
Pipe cleaners
Big beads and string
Pasta tubes for threading
Paper plates
Polystyrene plates for sewing with a big thick needle
Yarn remnants
Fabric remnants
Kids fat pencils
Finger paints
Big paper (A3), thicker than usual
Sticky tape (HUGE favourite)
Post-it type labels

[MrsMeeple]

Oops. That was supposed to say "kids plastic .... Scissors"

[fififrog]

yes i just popped back to recommend scissors too! amazing. v good for developing pencil grip too, apparently! again, i shopped at morrisons, 2 pairs (1 straight 1 crinkle) for 48p!!! not seen them that cheap again though...

[Artyparty]

Hello .caffine
Have you tried Baker Ross.co.uk ? Really good craft suppliers- I like the 'blanks' : photo frames, money boxes etc to decorate.
I also have watercolours & heavy paper which dd finds endlessly fascinating.
Pipe cleaners, wooden clothes pegs, doilys for making 'dolls'.
Finger printing kit. Stencils & foam printing stamps. Beads for threading... I could go on.....

[givemecaffeine21]

Thanks Arty - I will check them out!