| While many parents are daunted by the idea of | | | | necessary materials, and only use non-toxic, |
| tackling craft projects alone with their | | | | washable paints and inks. If you are not the |
| kids, with little effort, even the least | | | | adventurous sort, you might look for craft |
| creative parent will find crafting to be an | | | | directions that include patterns or pictures |
| easy, relaxing activity. With a few materials | | | | you can cut out for reference.Style and Blow |
| from around the home and some basic supplies, | | | | Dry |
| you too will be producing quick and easy | | | | |
| crafts with your kids. By keeping these few | | | | Allowing an item to dry naturally is a |
| simple tips in mind, you can literally create | | | | perfect time for taking a break from |
| countless crafts with your children without | | | | crafting, but if you are under time |
| having to break a sweat or make a mess.Keep | | | | constraints, such as at a birthday party or |
| it Simple | | | | scout meeting, use blow dryers to speed up |
| | | | the drying of paint or glue. Craft projects |
| Toy and craft stores sell fancy, expensive | | | | will dry in a fraction of the time with |
| crafting materials and kits. While these can | | | | applied air and heat, and usually drying to |
| be fun and shouldn't be overlooked, they | | | | the touch will suffice for moving on to the |
| aren't necessary for creative, fun projects. | | | | next step of a project.Keep it Clean |
| Construction paper, glue, scissors, scrap | | | | |
| fabric, non-toxic paints, crayons, and | | | | By far one of the most frustrating aspects |
| markers are sufficient for thousands of | | | | that keeps parents from crafting is the |
| potential crafts, especially when combined | | | | potential mess. Mess can be minimized by |
| with discarded household items or backyard | | | | always remembering to protect your crafting |
| treasures.Recycle and Reuse | | | | surfaces generously with newspaper. When you |
| | | | are done crafting, just pick up, and toss. |
| Save empty milk jugs, paper towel rolls, | | | | Using water-based paints, inks, and glues |
| bottle caps, old wrapping paper and greeting | | | | will make washing a snap, and manufacturers |
| cards, and other various boxes and containers | | | | produce plenty of easily washable markers, |
| for crafts. A plastic storage bin or large | | | | paints, and other materials commercially. And |
| cardboard box can make a perfect storage | | | | if you are following the advice of being |
| receptacle for these items, which can be | | | | selective, you can always reject projects |
| saved for a rainy day craft. Not only are | | | | that include mess if clean-up is not in the |
| these items ideal craft materials, but | | | | cards. Origami, pipe-cleaner sculpting, and |
| crafting with these items will teach your | | | | watercolors are a few examples of low or |
| kids about the importance of recycling and | | | | no-mess crafts.Have Fun |
| reuse in a very tangible context. Include in | | | | |
| your stash old newspapers to use for | | | | Remember, crafting with your kids is about |
| protecting your craft table and other | | | | exploring creativity and having fun. You |
| surfaces.File It | | | | expect produce the perfect, flawless product. |
| | | | Professional photographs of crafts usually |
| You don't need to buy expensive books or | | | | are taken in ideal lighting and made |
| subscribe to magazines to get a constant flow | | | | exclusively by adults, with the discarding of |
| of ideas for crafting. Web sites, newspapers, | | | | several less-than-perfect attempts. Don't |
| library books, pre-school newsletters and | | | | feel that your product has to look like a |
| more can provide you with hundreds of great | | | | picture in a magazine - to your child, it's a |
| crafting ideas. Clip, print, or copy to | | | | special work of art.There is little that is |
| create a file of ideas for a rainy day. You | | | | more rewarding than crafting with your |
| can pre-screen for quick and easy craft | | | | children. You are creating not only an |
| ideas, and also use these articles as a | | | | opportunity for your child to express his |
| guideline for items to store and save.Be | | | | creativity, but you giving him special time |
| Selective | | | | with you [i]you.[/u] You are creating not |
| | | | only fun and whimsical items, but precious |
| If you are looking for something quick and | | | | memories for your family that you will |
| easy, reject craft ideas that are a | | | | cherish for the rest of your lives.Jennifer |
| twelve-step program or have a materials list | | | | Johnson is a mother of two and a contributing |
| longer than your weekly grocery receipt. | | | | editor of - a site where parents can find |
| Don't go out of your way to tackle a craft | | | | plenty of free craft ideas, activities, |
| for which you do not already have the | | | | printable coloring pages and more. |