Help me with arts and crafts

[fruitstick]

I'm not very crafty or artistic.

DS1 is 3.4 and isn't very interested either. He doesn't draw very well (actually I was shocked that his friends can do recognisable objects) and gets bored very easily by colouring etc but I think a big part of that is that I don't do it with him.

Now I have DS2 (6 months) it would actually be really lovely if we could sit at the kitchen table and make things which DS2 watches in his high chair etc. It would also help DS1 and I spend some quality time together where I am focussing on him rather than pointlessly attempting to tidy the house.

We tried finger painting but after 5 minutes he just wanted to wash his hands and do something else.

So, I want things that I can do or ways that I can inspire him to stick at something for more than 5 minutes. I'm thinking crafty, sticky things might be better than drawing/painting.

Inspire me please, what do I need?

[FluffySaysTheDailyMailsShite]

velcro shapes are fab! No mess, just fun. The early learning centre sell sets in boxes. Junk building out of cardboard boxes/loo roll tubes/bottle tops is also fun, potato stamps (chop a potato in half, carve out a shape and use it as a stamper), play dough modeling, the list is endless.

[piprabbit]

Have you tried things like play dough or clay, he might enjoy the squidgy textures?
On a similar note my DD enjoyed kneading and shaping bread dough - we once ended up with toilet shaped rolls, which were certainly a talking point!

Stickers are good, I used to buy lots of animal shaped ones and then DD would cover a bit of paper in them, making a zoo or a farm or whatever. I think she enjoyed the immediate results.

Choosing pictures in magazines and catalogues and making collages is also entertaining and cheap.

You could also try playing the game where you fold a piece of paper, then one of you draws a funny head on the first section, the other draws the body etc. until you finally unfold the bit of paper to reveal your funny monster.

Or you could both try drawing on the same bit of paper and adding things to a shared picture.

I'd also recommend buying a really cheap pack of printer paper and having it and drawing materials easily available at all times so he can doodle when the fancy takes him without it being a big deal 'setting up'.

An etcher-sketcher (ELC does some good ones) is also fun, as it's mess free and can be used in any room of the house without fearing for the carpet. So handy for when the baby is on the move.

Don't expect any of the above ideas to lead to a work of art - but we've had lots of fun over the years (DD is now 5).

Good luck and have fun.....

[FritesMenthe]

these paint things are good if he doesn't like to get his hands messy.

Does he go to pre-school? I must admit I left the messy stuff to them!

[fruitstick]

He does go to preschool but it's feeling like a very long summer holiday and I think we need a broader range of activities!

We made biscuits today and he did seem to like the dough. We have play doh but whenever I ask if he wants to play with it he says no.

When I get the pens and pencils out the either wants me to draw, colour etc (Which I don't mind doing but then he won't do anything) or he just wants to scribble so hard that it rips the paper.

[FluffySaysTheDailyMailsShite]

Have you tried letting him 'draw' in a tray of sand? This can help children learn to draw/write. It does make a mess though but it is easy to clean up.

[tickfeckingtock]

Sometimes 5 mins is enough other times they can spend an hour doing one thing.

Maybe get a kids craft book or two from a charity shop or bargin books type place. Maybe get some ideas and inspiration.

Keep it cheap an cheerful, its amazing what kids can do with a couple of loo rolls and some cereal boxes plus scraps of paper. Don't worry it will look crap to anyone over the age of 5 .

PVA glue in a non spill tub with spreaders is very satisfying and messy compared with pritt stick (pritt drys too fast and you need to make more of an effort to make a mess ).

[tickfeckingtock]

Sometimes 5 mins is enough other times they can spend an hour doing one thing.

Maybe get a kids craft book or two from a charity shop or bargin books type place. Maybe get some ideas and inspiration.

Keep it cheap an cheerful, its amazing what kids can do with a couple of loo rolls and some cereal boxes plus scraps of paper. Don't worry it will look crap to anyone over the age of 5 .

PVA glue in a non spill tub with spreaders is very satisfying and messy compared with pritt stick (pritt drys too fast and you need to make more of an effort to make a mess ).

[mathanxiety]

How about a magnadoodle, or some such toy, basically a big magic slate where you can draw or write, then erase with a lever that makes noise. Good clean fun. You can also get blackboard paint and set aside a big patch of a wall, paint that section with the blackboard paint, surround it with moulding or some other border, and then let DC loose with chalk and a duster. Something that doesn't need a lot of set up or clean up and that doesn't require too much input from you is ideal, so a good supply of crayons and a box of paper is great for impromptu play and creativity. It's a really good idea to stand back and let children learn to direct their own play and find ways to amuse themselves, instead of coming to rely on mum for ideas, feedback and company all the time. While the idea of spending time doing things with your DCs is lovely, you may well find yourself regretting what you wished for. It can get to be too much of a good thing. If you really want to spent the time, make sure it's a routine and predictable 'craft time' or 'mum and me time' and always at a certain time of the day that suits you. Otherwise, even with the best will in the world, you will find yourself feeling put upon.

[bloss]

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[fruitstick]

mathanxiety. I completely understand what you are saying and to be honest it's what I'm trying to work towards.

He isn't very good at entetaining himself at home and I'm hoping if I can get him interested in sitting at the table drawing or making then eventually I will be able to leave him to it for 10 minutes and get some chores done!

[Gateau]

Am absorbing all these ideas - some good ones here.
Like you, I'm neither crafty or artistic, OP.

[fruitstick]

This morning, I got out the felt tips and he drew all over his arms and legs .

I'm not sure either of us are cut out for this!

[lisad123wantsherquoteinDM]

make your own play and then play
pasta threading
salt dough models then dry and paint
Large roll of linning paper (or back of wallpaper) for paints as hard to paint on a4 size sometimes
sock puppets
painting on pavements with water
cutting and sticking
potato printing
mask making (paper plates and straws)]
oh and my fav marball painting (get paints and dip in marbal, lay paper in a tray (with sides) and then put marbal in, roll around and see paint trails

[tethersend]

Try 'The anti-colouring book' for inspiration: www.amazon.co.uk/Anti-colouring-Book-Susan-Striker/dp/0439963281?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

It may be a bit old for him, but some ideas you could adapt, and some great independent drawing activities.

Oh, and 'making monsters' is good- grab a load of photos of different animals, cut them into pieces (head, feet, arms etc) and stick together to make your own mutant- can then make drawings of special powers it has (eg fire breathing), and make a 3D model of it out of junk, clay, papier mache, whatever. Oooh, and papier mache on balloons, let it dry then pop them. Paint faces on them, give them woollen hair etc- they can be family portraits, puppets, monsters (again!) or just props for roleplay.

Have fun!

[tethersend]

Oh, and facepaints (just read the felt pen post- lol)- but let him paint your face too!