The moment you first give a toddler a crayon and a piece of
paper, you're giving that child a step up to a world of
creativity, learning, entertainment and accomplishment. It's
the world of Arts and Crafts. A small phrase for such an
important part of a child's development.

Children are interested in Arts & Crafts from an early age.
Toddlers love to scribble on pieces of paper with chunky
crayons. Later, when they understand not to eat it, play dough
is a fascinating medium. They can squish it, use plastic tools
on it, blend the colors together, and press out shapes from it.
Everything get in a mess - play dough gets mashed into clothes,
hair, shoes, the floor...but of course that's part of the fun
for pre-schoolers. The messier the better! And what could be
messier than paint?

Give a small child a pot of thick paint, scrap paper and a
chunky paintbrush, and they're happy. If you can't bear to have
paint on everything, take it outdoors. Using playdough and
painting materials, kids are learning about form and substance,
improving their motor skills and enhancing their imaginations.
As they grow, there will be more and more crafts to choose
from, and, thanks to the diverse range of crafts for kids,
there's something for everyone, whether 2 or 12 years old.

If you join in, you'll be giving your kids happy memories to
store away. So, encourage your kids to express themselves with
arts and crafts. Never force them - it has to be an enjoyable
pursuit. Similarly, don't ever disparage your child's work of
art. Don't be discouraged if your child lacks interest - just
explore different options. Be imaginative. Do crafts outdoors
as well as in. Use different materials or seasonal themes.

In this age of mindless TV watching and video games, the
ability to something creative is an amazing skill for a child
to have. You'll be so glad you encouraged them.

About The Author: LynnM is a work-from-home mom. Read more
about children at her website
http://www.family-den.com/Children.html

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