Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

Original poster

When did your toddler actually do crafts

21 replies

meepmoop · 01/09/2019 20:41

Hello,

My DS has just turned 2, I've tried him lots of times with colouring and he's still not interested.

I just wondered if this is the norm or of others are more interested in it. Anything I can do to make it more fun

Thank you

OP posts:

Coconut0il · 01/09/2019 20:44

DS1 loved crafts, colouring, cutting, sticking, he loved all of it. DS2 is just 4 and is not interested at all. The only thing he likes to do which is slightly creative is playdoh and painting the fence with water.

bumblingbovine49 · 01/09/2019 20:56

DS enjoyed making bloody enormous combinations of hodge podge things glued or taped together 3d models using cardboard, yoghurt cartons, loo rolls etc at about 4 years old .

Before that he enjoyed playing with water and sand and dirt. The only vaguely artistic thing he ever did was sit in paint and cover his body in i ( yes I let him do that on the garden a few times as it kept him happy)

He really had absolutely no interest in anything to do with fine motor skills. I really did try and encourage it as I was often keekn for some ' quiet play' but I had no luck with it whatsoever. He would eat crayons! If I ever got out the paint, he would do a couple of strokes of paint on the paper and then start putting his hands in it and rubbing them everywhere

He liked playing with playdough a bit though it was mostly squashing it and eating to really

To be fair he still doesn't like drawing or painting much and he is 14. He has other talents though !!

moreismore · 01/09/2019 20:58

I would say 2.5-3. But still not that bothered about colouring at 3.5. Likes scribbling though!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families

Nacknick · 01/09/2019 21:00

Only when at the childminders - and then only under duress!

WindsweptEgret · 01/09/2019 21:06

Around just turned two. Never a fan of colouring though, scribbles, then drawing recognisable shapes from about two and a half. Cutting paper with safety scissors, sticking, painting.

Winter2019 · 01/09/2019 21:06

Dd is just over 3yrs old. Has a go at coloring, painting now and again...

Pinkflipflop85 · 01/09/2019 21:09

Son is 5 and still has little to no interest in craft based activities. Reception teacher said it took a lot of 'encouragement' to get him near the creative area so that they could tick it on his profile!

Orangedaisy · 01/09/2019 21:13

Dd2 (2.5) loves making jewellery-threading beads on elastic. And sticking stickers on anything to make crowns. She copies her older sister (I never tried this so young with Dd1) and I was very surprised with her dexterity.

Original poster

meepmoop · 01/09/2019 21:28

Thank you for your replies.

I guess it might just not be his thing, I can't get him to sit and do puzzles
Either.

My niece and nephew sat beautifully from a young age doing painting, sticking and puzzles so was expecting to do the same with DS

OP posts:

Gamorasgran · 01/09/2019 21:35

Christ never. They are both shit at all things art and craft related.

For context dd1 was given one of those sew your own cuddly dog kits which she asked me to do for her. It's ear is sewed to its foot which is linked to its muzzle. We call it Frankenstein. Apples dont fall far from the tree in this house.

On the other hand they can play instruments and cook. And do science experiments. We started cooking around 3ish (mostly baking)

LoveGrowsWhere · 01/09/2019 21:35

DS was never taken with crafts. In reception year teacher said he never went to the creative corner. Lego was as close as it got. Still no interest now as a teen but has plenty of other interests.

SarahAndQuack · 01/09/2019 21:37

You're not banning enough things.

DD adores craft and has done since she was 13 months. I can be that precise, because 13 months is when we moved into an undecorated shithole of a house, and while I industriously polyfill'd in the cracks, pulled off the peeling wallpaper and painted it all, she ... did the same.

And all over the floors.

And then sometimes she ate paint.

She's still not that bothered by boring old drawing paper, mind.

HarrietSchulenberg · 01/09/2019 21:45

Never. Not one of my 3 boys was ever interested in crafts. Middle one has just failed his Art GCSE.

Fivechatchacha · 01/09/2019 21:51

4 some interest in cutting up magazines and gluing things. Did some scribbles and very basic drawings. Liked junk modeling

5 lots of interest in colouring in and drawing more detailed pictures. Likes his magic painting books.

Before 4, very little interest. Did like doing jigsaws though.

Ginger1982 · 01/09/2019 22:58

My DS is 2.5 and has no interest in crafts at all. At toddler group etc he won't do a picture when loads of otter kids will. It bothers me sometimes and I worry about his development but he loves wheels and how things work, the alphabet, colours and shapes so I'm guessing his talents may lie elsewhere!

Ohmygod123 · 02/09/2019 16:32

My 2.5yr old can't sit long enough to have a wee. Will scribble or muck about with paint and glue but never actually does the craft properly!! Playdoh is a winner

Pumpkinsalad · 02/09/2019 17:37

My eldest loved crafty things from young, I took her to a messy art group from 6m and let her create chaos on your wipe clean line to. She's 4 now and really only started colouring in the last 6m. She's loved painting and other crafty things for ages though

Youngest is 1 and enjoys colouring/scribbling but that's probably because she watches big sister

I'm also very crafty which will probably help dd1 is desperate to learn to crochet after watching me lots and we all love clay

Pumpkinsalad · 02/09/2019 17:37

That should read lino not line to

Cardifficult · 02/09/2019 22:12

Our son has just started to show a real interest in the last month or so, asking for crayons and chalks and making deliberate marks on paper and (eek) the walls! He's 21 months now. I'm an artist though and spend a lot of time on the floor with him doing little sketches and doodles, often of him. I think that helps. Also, even at my age, art has to be about play and experimentation. I'm deeply suspicious of terms like 'art' or 'craft' - they overcomplicate a very innate creative impulse that we all share. If your kid is playing with different food stuffs or painting water marks on a fence, roll with it. It's all about exploring marks, colours, shapes and patterns. Trying to get a kid to do the tick box 'arty' things - draw people, colour within the lines, create recognisable sculptures out of egg boxes - is a sure fire way to kill that creative urge. Just give 'em some paint and watch them enjoy making a mess!

Witchend · 02/09/2019 22:26

DD1 was never especially interested in crafts. She did them sometimes from about age 4-8yo. She loved writing though and did a lot of that from around age 3yo.
Dd2 loved crafts. Started around age 20 months and still likes them today if you can prise her off the computer.
Ds couldn't stand crafts almost all the time. He doesn't mind an airfix now if he can research the plane for hours first. In infants he managed to get an arrangement that during craft afternoon he went to another class to do maths. He was delighted with this.

Teakind · 02/09/2019 22:37

My DD has loved colouring in since she was about 18 months old I think.

Have you tried one of those big aqua doodle mats? That might be a good start.

Flip

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread