Art & Craft

Art activities are great for developing fine motor abilities because they take the child's focus away from the skill itself. It is merely used to obtain a goal, e.g. sticking the star on the paper.

They also learn

• about different materials, e.g. different kinds of paper and cardboard, fabrics, etc.,
  

• about the function of glue, scissors, stencils, stamps, etc.
  

• how to put different techniques together to 'make' something
  

Parents should not expect their toddler's artwork to be of a very high standard.

Remarks like 'another one for the bin' when the child proudly presents his or her artwork to the parent are common but very disheartening for the child who does understand what the parent is suggesting.

Try to see the achievement in the artefact.

Positive comments such as 'that must have taken you a long time to make' or 'that looks as if it was really difficult to make' will increase the child's self-confidence by acknowledging his or her achievement.

• Painting with watercolours and gouache

• Colouring in and drawing with crayons and markers, sometimes using stencils, more often punches.
  

• Cutting with straight scissors and craft scissors
  

• Stamps with different motives and self-made potato stamps
  

• Punches for punching different shaped holes, e.g. stars, hearts, teddies, different animals, etc.
  

• Embossing punches, mainly for card making

• Glueing with glue sticks and pvc glue
  

• Varnishing with self-made pvc glue varnish and glitter
  

• Folding cardboard and paper either for the sake of it or with older children to make cards, boxes, boats, hats, etc.
  

• Using various art materials to create special effects, e.g. straws, pipe cleaners, glitter, beads, etc.
  

• Tearing paper - tearing paper with the thumb and the index finger is the most valuable exercise for holding a pen later on.
  

• Paper making (with deckle and mould)