playing with crayons felts paint etc

Dawn - posted on 07/04/2010

My son is in a 6 weeks to 3 years program and they started integrating him into playdough (flour, salt, water) time around 10 or 11 months. He stuck it in his mouth some, but it is so salty he spits it right back out. He has been fingerpainting with them since he was 8 months and could sit up well in a chair. We have tried crayons, but he mostly just bites them. He does scribble with pens sometimes.
Because the kids go up to 3 years there are lots of not-really-age-appropriate toys that he plays with in a very age appropriate way - he mouths all of them.

Melanie - posted on 07/02/2010

I work in a long day care centre where we have babies as young as 6 weeks old. We use felts and crayons and even playdough with this age group. They are never too young to start artistic play. If they do go to eat whatever we are using, we just guide them back to the paper.
My son is 14 months and we have been giving him a pen and paper since he was 8 months old. He loves it and the "pictures" that he "draws" are just adorable.
Supervision is really the key with this and anything you do with them.

Lauren - posted on 07/01/2010

They actually have crayons for 1 year olds. They are called Tadoodles. You can buy them at any superstore in the craft or school sections. They are a bit on the pricy side, but if you don't want to have to worry about your son eating them, it's the way to go.

Diane - posted on 06/30/2010

My son has been using crayons since he was 11 months. I had to teach him how to use them and not to put them in his mouth. Everytime he put it in his mouth I would tell him yucky. Now he loves to color on his own. Of course we only use the BIG crayons. :)

Rebecca - posted on 06/24/2010

thanks guys! i bought some crayons and markers and a big scrap book the other day - he had a go (amongst eating them) but then in the supermarket he stole my pen and list off me and started trying to scribble on it - so cute. might look at trying finger painting - would love to have some art for the fridge! :)

Ricky - posted on 06/22/2010

You can start now. Just show him how to use them and he may try to mimic you. I let my son colour in restaurants and yes he does try to eat the crayons but I just tell them they are yucky so he takes them out of his mouth and makes a yucky face, then he starts colouring again. At home we are starting to finger paint, It took a few attempts but now he is getting the hang of it.

You'll wont know if he is ready unless you try, if its not going well then just put them away and try again later.

Rhionna - posted on 06/21/2010

I let my LO play with crayons and felts, crayola are good and do a range for small hands that are like a ball shape so your child can hold the whole thing. They also have paint brushes, and crayons in the same range. They are called "doodles" I think!

Amanda - posted on 06/20/2010

now is fine, even just to the feel of it. My daughter carries them around and will eat the paper. If babies eat crayons it won't hurt them. It will color their stool, but wax is non-toxic and undigestible. Show him what to do with the paper and crayons and eventually he will mimic and start to refine his fine motor skills!