Finding toddler-safe crafting supplies around the house
Posted on: 8 March 2016
Crafting can be a great way to spend quality time with your toddler. However, given the propensity of toddlers to put everything they can find into their mouth, it is a good idea to make sure that your supplies are safe for the kids. Here are some tips to find and make some crafting supplies from the items you already have around the house.
DIY paints
If your toddler loves to try and eat their paint, food colouring can be used to make your own paint. Pull down the paint supplies and make a DIY paint with 2 tablespoons of cornflour whisked together with 1 cup of boiling water. Once it's all mixed together, you can add food colouring until it reaches the right shade and put it in the fridge to cool down. The paint can be used for finger painting or any other paint related craft activity and can be eaten without causing any issues.
Crayons
Crayons form the basis of many toddler craft projects. If you are looking at ways to make the crayons yourself at home, you can use carnuba wax and food colouring to create a crayon mix. The project can let you make crayons in any shape you can mould as well, so it can be a good way to create some fun and easy-to-grip shapes for your toddler.
Old clothes
Toddlers often love creative play, such as using their teddies or dolls to act out their activities. A great use for old clothes that end up too stained or torn to be handed down to another child is to use them as raw material for doll's clothes. When you do get a destroyed piece of grown-up or kids clothing, cut out any of the usable fabric and put in aside in a pile to be used as the raw materials for a new designer outfit for your child's toys. While they might need some help with the sewing, they can often provide great design advice and love seeing their toys in familiar fabrics and patterns.
If you don't have the time, or don't have the supplies at home, you can head into any craft supplies store and find a range of toddler friendly crafting supplies. Building a crafting collection can create the foundation of a great crafting relationship and help your child improve their fine motor skills and creativity in a safe environment.
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