For Those Who Have Art Centers

[countrymom]

how do they work for you. I have a 3 drawer bin, nothing big. What should I put in it. Do you put scissors in it, paint, crayons. Do the kids make a big mess. Do they color other things. Do you find that they waste alot. What about age groups.

I'm asking because I'm thinking of doing this. I have some older kids who always want to do art (I do one "art" project a day) but they want to color all the time, and its a pain to constantly get the things out for them. I have a 7 foot art cupboard, so I have lots of stuff, I just don't allow them in it because its very full.

[ammama]

I have a table set up with crayons and paper that I keep stocked. I originally put out a whole bunch of little google eyes type stuff etc and glue, but they NEVER put the little pieces away, and I got sick of sweeping up all the collage-y stuff. I would probably put scissors out if it was legal here, but it's required that I keep them locked up, but the kids know that they can just ask for for scissors if they want them. I might try putting the collage type stuff back and see what happens.

I do have one dcg3 who is on probation for the colouring table, as she coloured all over my chalkboard last week, and there are a couple of crayon marks on the wall of the playroom that I attribute to her as well.

[boysx5]

I want to have an art section but with a 19 month old and a 11 month old I can't have it around with them. I was thinking of putting in on the other side of my gate for the older ones I just bought and easel and want to use it.

[countrymom]

i'm himming whether or not to get an easle, our zellers (its like target) sells a small one and its easy to put away. I'll see, I think the kids would use it, its small and only has one side. I need more tables too.

[SilverSabre25]

I have an art center, but it's not free-reign for the kids to use. They have to ask or I suggest it sometimes or plan a certain activity. I want to get to the place where my kiddos can have free access to at least some of the materials, but they're not in a place yet where we can do that. My 3yo can, with some materials, and the 2.75 and 2 yos are still learning important things about using art materials...like coloring only on paper, only on YOUR paper, don't eat the crayons or markers, art materials stay AT the table, and don't destroy someone else's work. Once all that training is done...we might be able to have some free-access art stuff!

[SunflowerMama]

This is what I've come up with since receiving some great suggestions on here after I posted about my space.

It's worked great so far today. I have one 19 month old (hence the gate) and everyone else is 3+.

I also have these super cool chalkboard labels coming from Etsy to label all the mason jars and containers.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/65718974/chalk-labels-tmoval-vinyl-chalkboard?ref=sr_list_25&ga_search_query=chalkboard%2Blabels&ga_search_type=handmade

[WImom]

sunflower mama - LOVE all those colors. I really need to get to ikea ones of these days (It's a 2 hour drive though). Did you get the art smocks there too?

[kendallina]

I always leave out:

crayons
markers
color pencils
pencils
paper (white and construction)
recyclable materials
glue sticks
pom poms and other stuff to glue

I sometimes leave out:

beading stuff
regular glue
stamps and stamp pads
tape
stapler
scissors

My playroom is all carpeted, so we only paint in the kitchen . I would love to have the paint available all the time, but we just can't. I'm considering buying some large area rugs for the playroom and then I would probably allow watercolor paints to be a choice.

My ages are all around 3 years old.

When I worked in a center we had everything out all the time. But, we also had easily wipe-able floors (and walls). If I had easily wipeable floors I would leave everything out all the time. And, yes, they do make a big mess.

[MissAnn]

At my house everything is in their reach. They get it out and put it away. I have one of those over the door hangy things for shoes.....do you know what I'm talking about? It has pockets. It even has watercolers and aprons. I have only 3-5 year olds though. Makes it much more do-able! I don't do any copy cat crafts (except a few for special Holidays).....they just make what they want. One girl today made Justin Bieber tickets!

[MissAnn]

I do have one dcg3 who is on probation.

OK....this made me laugh. I'll have to use this sometime. I usually say they have lost their privilege .....but probatation.....that's a fun one to use!

[ninosqueridos]

sunflowerMAMA I love your art setup - beautiful! That would be such an awesome little nook my dck's would love.....and the gate is perfect for the littlest of friends. Nice!

Now I'm off to think of how I can do something like that in my house....I have two 3yo that would be allowed "access"........I think the 2's are still too little for the freedom.

[countrymom]

sunflower mama--I'm so jealous of your space. I love it. Unfortuantely I can't do a big area, maybe I can, I need to rearrange some stuff. So I put stuff in a wheeling cart and omg, they attacked it like crazy. I like this art area idea, my stuff is being used and I'm not hording it.

[melskids]

sunflowermama.......LOVE IT!!!! the bookshelf fits great behind the door!!!!

art is my FAVORITE area. everything is out and accessible (including a sand & water table and easel) everyday. they are free to choose what to create, and when. like i said in previous posts, you have to take the TIME to teach them the proper way to handle the materials, and cleanup. its part of the learning process. (i have a 17 month old, 2~ 2 1/2 yr olds, a 4 yd old, and 3~ 8 yr olds.) the only one i put restrictions on is the 17 month old, because he still puts everything in his mouth. but when he wants to play there, i just stay close by. he is learning to use things properly and he has mastered sweeping up the sand now too.

the other day, the 4 yr old decided the baby dolls needed to play in the sand table, clothes and all. and she was moving sand from the table to a dishpan with all the play food. let me tell you what a mess she had!!! but she knows the rules, and spent an hour just to clean up and put everything back the way it belongs. when she was done, she said "next time, i dont think i will be putting the doll clothes in the sand." so i look at it this way...i allowed her to "experiment" without squashing her need to explore and be creative, she is fine tuning her self help skills, and she learned a GREAT lesson in cause and effect.

[DBug]

Having an art center intrigues me, but what do your dc parents think of all the stuff that comes home? I know that if they could, my dc kids would be creating, drawing and painting several projects every day, but I'm not sure my parents (or my bank account) would handle all of the extra take-home stuff every week.

I use Funshine Express, so one craft and one worksheet gets sent home everyday and even that is too much for some parents. The big girls (3 to 5 yrs) do have access to paper, crayons and markers and will produce pages and pages of pictures and stories. I put it on the fridge for a day or two but then I recycle it, since I know that's what the parents do too.

So what do you do with everything the kids make? Do you send it all home, and if so, what do the parents think?

[WImom]

Dbug - I've wondered that too. Mostly because my DD6 is in K5 this year and they must have an open art area because she comes home with alteast 10 sheets of paper a day. It's all very nice and I can tell she's using her imagination but she also wants to keep it all.

I think I'd go broke. I do offer crayons and coloring books and a few sheets of paper (I put more out each day). But that's all so far. This tread has me thinking though of putting more out.