Arts/crafts for 15-17months?

[Cadillac]

Contact paper collage - put down a square of contact paper and add 'bits and bobs' to stick onto it ... tissue squares, sequence, shapes of paper and so forth than cover with another piece of contact paper to make suncatcher for your window.
!

Where do you find contact paper? I can't find it anywhere

[Cadillac]

. FlexFunCare stole my answer <insert whiny voice> lol!

LOL!! I feel the same way all the time. We all tend to have the same answers. I like being the first to answer a post so all my ideas still seem original. This way it looks like everyone else is copying or agreeing with ME!

[Inspired by Reggio]

Where do you find contact paper? I can't find it anywhere

Walmart in the 'kitchen organization' section ... also called clear shelf liner or mac tac ... Dollar Store as well but it is a small piece usually.

Another thing my crew loves is I laminated white cardstock with heavy laminate and we 'explore' on this surface, great with paint, with washable markers or dry erase overhead markers and so forth and than when they are 'done' it will 'wipe clean' for use another day and environmentally friendly way to create for the 'process orientated' child - and if they create something they really want to 'show mom and dad' I take a picture of it. Great thing is that they can 'finger paint' on it forever and it will not 'degrade' like paper will on them.

[Momof4]

Under 2's are a challenge and I do like to start them crafting shortly after their first birthday.

A daycare provider I know posted a fantastic idea for mess-free painting. You put a teaspoon or two of salad oil in an extra large ziplock bag, then I squirted in about 3-4 colours of paint in blobs and then just let the children use their fingers to push the paint around inside the bag. It has to be water soluble paint so it doesn't mix with the oil and it will eventually all mix into one yucky colour but this provides lots of fun.

I mix flour and water and food colouring to make fingerpaints for the babies because it's not going to harm them at all.

I use a koolaid recipe to make my playdo and it smells fruity and nice. The kids love it. Then when it gets old we mold it into something depending on my theme of the week, but even a handprint that can be left to harden and painted is great for Mother's Day, etc.

I bought short little washable markers for them to colour.

When my older children are crafting I just let the little ones play or I put them in their boosters with craft materials but I don't have them make the big crafts until about 18 months of age, then I start showing them all about glueing and taping things too.

[Spixie33]

Oh just remembered another one that even my 12 month old has done...

at night fill an ice cube tray with water
Add food colouring to the tray so that some are red, some are blue, some are yellow, etc
Then put in the freezer for about 20 minutes
Break some popsicle sticks in half and stick into the ice cube tray colours for a short handle.
And voila...next day you have ice paint

Use fingerpaint paper (the one that has a glossy sheen) and give the kids the ice cubes on a stick and let them paint

Even if the little ones have a lick - it is just water and food colouring

The colours do show up on the paper and make sort of a water colour picture as they drag it across the page

[Lou]

Are you guys all on Pinterest? If not....you must!!!! It is a GOLD MINE for excellent open and structured craft ideas for all ages!!!!! Beware, it's addicting!

[Lou]

Some recent ideas I've done:
Spaghetti Painting
Shaving foam painting (with food colouring)
Cool Whip Painting (with food colouring)
Oatmeal painting (mix oatmeal with non-toxic paint)
Sponge Painting
Bingo Dabbers on Coffee filters
Stamping