Childminders and art and crafts

[Littlepurpleprincess]

ok, I'm a registered CM and I am stocking up on art and craft stuff. All my kids are aged between 3 and 6 at the moment.

I have very limited space and little money, I don't mind spending more on stuff that's really going to get a lot of play and use and be valued by the kids.

I don't like kits that tell what to make and how to make it, I'd like resources that are more versitile.

So, my question is, what art and craft supplies and resources do you find get played with the most, sparks their creativity, and gets the most enjoyment?

What are your must haves?

What would go without? (glitter!)

I just buy glue... and paint... no early learning as too expensive, asda or tesco good..

its amazing what u can use from home.. I get everyone to give me their old birthday cards, post cards to cut up and stick.. cheap market wrapping paper and ribbon.. pasta , rice and sphagetti of course..also model making.. used packets of cereal, soap powder anything really all my friends just give me their old stuff.. ask around..

Something that most people don't think about - although they get children to make their own card and present, they don't usually get them to make/decorate their own present bag.

I get loads of bags from stores (mainly clothing stores) which are really good quality, but obviously not useful as present bags as they have a label on them. I did some cutting and pasting with my DS (from old wrapping paper) and he decorated a bag which we then used as the present bag for a birthday party he went to. I'm sure your children's parents would be more than happy to collect these sorts of things for you, I certainly would and do for my nanny. (Especially tissue paper, as that's quite expensive to buy but frequently is used to wrap clothes, in boxes etc, etc)

I also find that my DS loves to do a craft activity if he sees it on Mister Maker first. They have a bunch of them online so you can prep all the craft things, watch it with the children and then make the item.

Same sort of thing with the bags, I bought paper bags on ebay the same sort you get takeaways in, £3.60 for 25 bags. The children love decorating them, sticking and glueing, and putting all their pictures and bits and bobs in.
Also go stone hunting, wash and decorate them.
Double sided sticky tape on card and then go on a sticky hunt through the woods, see how many differnet things can be stuck on.
I noticed morrisons have some really good bits to stick on for £1 a bag.
I also pick up loads of leaflets which can be cut up and stuck on paper to make pictures, lasts ages.
You really don't need much in stock, most councils have a scrap store that schools and childminders and nurseries can access, you will be amazed what you find, its all left over packaging from manufacturers and stuff that factories can't use, its like xmas.

yy less arts and crafts more like reusing and recycling

I get through LOADS of coloured paper and paint

Make your own play doh

String pasta not beads (risk assessed obv ho hoh)

Kitchen roll inners are a big hit in my setting, for looking through, sending smallish cars down, for stuffing with silky scarves etc etc

None of the children are keen on crayons so as they are used up I don't bother replacing; felt tips and proper colouring pencils are preferred here; chunky chalks from the £ shop are just as good as ELC ones