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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Access to pens etc. ... what do you do?

32 replies

Snowstorm · 01/12/2006 17:02

DD1 is just 4 and DD2 is almost 3 (but quite young for her age IMO) and I have all the pens etc. in a cupboard with a child-catch on it. There's a table with black paper taped on and some chalks and sponges that they can use any time (because chalk comes off them, the walls, other people etc!) but all the other stuff only comes out when they are supervised.

I'm just wondering whether I'm being a bit uptight (be kind please!) or whether most people do the same with this age group?

OP posts:

Glassofwine · 01/12/2006 17:04

dd2 is 4 and ds1 is 3 - we have a big bucket of felt tips, and lidded boxes of crayons and pencils. They have access to these all the time, also round ended sissors and other craft stuff. We are an arty family, so I suppose we do like to encourage crafts.

hoxtonchick · 01/12/2006 17:06

my 18 month dd has open access to pens etc as she has an almost 5 year old brother. she is currently naked & covered in felt-tip....

sunnysideup · 01/12/2006 17:07

absolutely sensible I'd say, specially with your youngest still 2 yrs old. It wouldn't be fair on them actually to expect them to use pens without disaster at this age, if they are not supervised!

So long as you do say yes reasonably often when they ask to use pens I'd say no worries at all....also, let them tear paper and use children's scissors as I believe this gets their 'grip' better for purposes of learning the fine motor control that will lead to writing later on.

LadyMuck · 01/12/2006 17:08

I guess you have to go with the relative maturity of your children but the ds's have a 5 drawer chest containing all pens, pencils, crayons and art and craft stuff including glue and glitter, but excluding paint. They probably didn't get full access until the term before ds1 started school so he would have been 4 - 4.5.

I guess you need to decide whether they are able to undertsand and follow the rule "we only draw on paper".

Original poster

Snowstorm · 01/12/2006 17:08

I like them drawing/colouring etc. ... but I prefer their efforts to be 'contained' to the kitchen table and I don't think they would be if I just left the stuff out all the time. Maybe I'm wrong. That's why I started this thead in any case to see whether I'm babying them and whether it's time to move on!

OP posts:

Original poster

Snowstorm · 01/12/2006 17:15

LOL hoxtonchick - my neighbour's son (almost 4) recently drew all over his baby brother's face with felt-tips (he was about 8 weeks old) when she turned her back 'for a minute'!

DD1 is at nursery and fairly co-operative ... DD2 is a stubborn little minx who likes to pretend that she hasn't heard or is too young to understand in order to try and get away with doing with exactly what she wants to do .

We have the plastic scissors for DD2 but she hasn't mastered them yet but the metal blunt ended scissors for DD1 and she loves them. They say yes 9.9 times out of ten when colouring/sticking/gluing/painting etc. are mentioned, they love it ... I just don't leave anything out for casual/unsupervised use though.

What age do most people let their children have pens etc. in their bedrooms? !!

OP posts:

roisin · 01/12/2006 17:29

We moved house when dss were (just) 5, and 3+3 months. Previously pens had basically only been out supervised.

In the new house we set up 'free access' art/craft materials, and they just help themselves!

We have clear rules: they are only allowed pens etc. in the breakfast (craft) room, and must not take them upstairs. And drawing is only done on paper.

We've never had any problems, and it is probably still the most-used room in the house.

Snailpace · 01/12/2006 22:36

Lol Hoxton chick, that made me laugh out loud! My Dh thinks Ive lost the plot.

My DD (19 Months) is obsessed with 'colours' (Pens) at the moment and who am I to stand the way of creativity? I read this thread because only today, have I been out to buy a colouring book and crayons because DD has ran all the pens out. We've had a few doodles (apparently it's a lady) on the sofa but generally, if I keep paper out, there is no real mess. My main concern was if she tripped whilst holding a pen, hence I got some crayons today with which it was love at first sight!

Smithagain · 02/12/2006 21:20

Ours are always available, but out of immediate reach so 15mo DD can't reach them. From time to time, they are put right away, because our 4yo DD knows that drawing on the walls is about the most unsociable thing she can do - so sometimes she does it to get a reaction.

She can have them whenever she wants them, but she gets the third degree about what she is going to draw on and where she is going to sit. I'd love her to have constant access to them. I don't really care if she draws on herself or even the baby. But I don't like the house getting trashed and some of the marks are not coming off

hoxtonchick · 03/12/2006 12:20

i can highly reccommend crayola extra washable felt tips. they really are!

jakeandbensmummy · 03/12/2006 12:26

This is a really interesting thread. I must be a bit uptight because we have a huge artbox crammed full of stuff but it's contents are only ever out under my strict supervision. However, we do something arty most days and we do get pretty messy sometimes so maybe I'm not that anal yet!!
I agree about the Crayola pens though - they are fab. You can also get the clear ones that only draw on special crayola paper, not furniture!

Tinker · 03/12/2006 12:29

Same as hc - 8 year gap, immpossible to supervise. Noticed my sheets have been drawn on the weekend.

hoxtonchick · 03/12/2006 12:31

our walls have been decorated too, tinker.... i suppose i could supervise more closely, but dd really loves the pens, makes a beeline for them so i let her.

poppiesinalinewithtinsel · 03/12/2006 12:36

felt tips and young children

DS1 once 'decorated' my wet washing while it was hanging up to dry, along with the walls and floor. All newborn white washing may I add. I was not a happy bunny.

MulledRubyRiojaWine · 03/12/2006 13:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

poppiesinalinewithtinsel · 03/12/2006 13:11

ewwwwwww

TinsellyRhino · 03/12/2006 13:23

my 19 month old can get to pens and felt tips because her 6 yr old is hopeless at putting them away.............i need to remember to wash the pen off her legs before she goes to nursery

TinsellyRhino · 03/12/2006 13:25

her 6 yr old sister I mean

fortyplus · 03/12/2006 13:30

TinsellyRhino - check all the pens to make sure they've got child proof caps ie with an air hole. And don't allow wax crayons - too easy to chew a bit off and choke on it.

TinsellyRhino · 03/12/2006 13:32

they do all have airholes and I learnt very quickly that dd2 thinks that you are supposed to eat wax crayons so I have binned them, I didn't mean to make light and appear like I wasn't looking after them.

Twiglett · 03/12/2006 13:32

my 5 year old and 2 year old have free access to felt tips, pencils, chalks, crayons, pens and paper .. we keep them in a low drawer in the kitchen (but in peninsula which faces towards kitchen table)

DimpledThighs · 03/12/2006 13:33

you know snowstorm it seems like you have set up a system that suits you. As long as you let them have them out when they ask or get them out and draw with them I think it is fine.

It all depends on your children, you , your house etc. When we first moved in dd1 ds4 they had access to pens all the time as I knew we were going to redecorate the house. Dd gor highlighter pen and drew all over sitting room wall! Now we have decorated pens are in reach but children older and know it is only at the table otherwise pens go away.

You sound like you have come to a compromise with the chalks. I would carry on as you are. If you are still concerned excellent recomendatuion below re: crayola washable whatevers.

fortyplus · 03/12/2006 13:36

TinsellyRhino - it's ok - I wasn't being uppity, honest! I was always a bit paranoid when mine were little, that's all

TinsellyRhino · 03/12/2006 13:37

didn't think you were being upiity forty, just realised that I could have sounded careless

TinsellyRhino · 03/12/2006 13:37

or uppity even

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