Crafts & Fun

Create a space fit for your little artiste

Paint smock Try an old button-up shirt with pockets for pencils
Art station Cover a kid-sized table with newspapers and place it on top of an old shower curtain
Art supply storage Use fruit baskets or egg cartons to hold supplies. Cut the lid off an egg carton and poke a hole in each cardboard “bump.” Store brushes and scissors handle-side down in each bump.

Supervise tots closely, especially if yours tend to taste their paints!

Get the goods

• non-toxic liquid tempera paint in red, blue and yellow
• inexpensive paintbrushes (assorted sizes), Popsicle sticks
• squeeze bottle white craft glue (non-toxic)
• containers to store paint and to be palettes (tinfoil pie plates, empty baby food jars, yogurt containers)
• plenty of paper (newsprint, coloured construction paper, sketch and watercolour pads)
• kitchen sponges and coloured plastic pot scourers

Twinkle paints (ages 2+)

Add 2 parts sugar or salt to 1 part paint and stir well; the mixture will be very thick. Paint it on any kind of white paper. Let dry a few hours, and admire the sparkles and bumpy texture.

Originally published in Today's Parent, December 2009