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As mums, we want to do what is best for our kids, right? While we know that screen time is always going to be a part of their lives and their future, many of us still value the importance of scheduling activities and creating opportunities for your child to embrace arts and crafts. Not only can it help to make lasting cognitive development, but it also gives you and your child a chance to have some quality time together. But the truth is, not all of us love the crafts?
You might have a few different reasons why you avoid the paint, hide the glue and stay away from any craft suggestions your child might have and that might be because of the mess. Some of us just don’t like the mess crafts or some activities we can make. After all, setting up the activity, for then your child to make a mess for all of five minutes, leaving you to clean up afterwards doesn’t exactly appeal, does it?
So what if I said there were craft ideas you could do with your little ones that are not messy. It sounds too good to be true, but it is possible. With that in mind, here are some of the things to think about.
Give yourself the best possible chance
One of the first things to do would be to give yourself the best possible chance when it comes to crafts. It is no good being underprepared and not investing in things that your child will love but won’t create a mess. Get on Amazon or any other store you frequent, and order in things like Liquid Chalk Pens, Acrylic paint pens, Crayons, felt tips, and anything else you think might be useful. You can also pick up some great sets online that include glue sticks, pipe cleaners, and even child-safe scissors they can use.
A crafting drawer
Create a crafting drawer that will help you to make the most of what you have and also have some easy access to the things you need. Aside from the things you may have bought, keep empty containers, boxes, and jars that would be ideal for pulling out when you want to create something crafty. Toilet rolls and egg boxes can be used for endless things, and it doesn’t have to make a mess.
Save some ideas
There will always be inspiration for crafts. Blogs share things online all the time and on their usual social media, as well as Pinterest – even if you’re not a Pinterest Mum, so if you spot something, save it.
Use themes to inspire
If you are struggling with ideas, then why not consider a theme. Look at the month ahead and use specialist occasions or the time of the year to help. Here are a few ideas to help you get started:
- Christmas
- Halloween
- Easter
- Birthdays
- The world
- What your child is learning in school
Embrace the chalk
Chalk can be a great crafting idea for your children to get involved in, and it can take little input from you it. You might want to think about some of the things they could do, but two common ways to use chalk are highlighted below.
Chalk outside
Grabbing some giant chalks and letting the kids go while on pavements, patios, and even on your wall can be a lot of fun. You don’t need to worry about the mess as the rain will easily wash it away, but if it is the height of summer, then just using some water or your hose pipe will give them a blank canvas to work on once more.
Chalkboard fun
Sometimes the more traditional the activity is, the better, so why not encourage your child to enjoy drawing on a chalkboard using chalkboard markers? It can be a little different than using paper and a pen or even a whiteboard, and they can easily rub things out and start again.
Craft Ideas That Are Not Messy
Now you are ready, here are some of the best ideas to consider that will help your child have lots of fun without all of the mess.
Squish paint
This one is ideal for little hands and perfect as a sensory activity. Simply fill up a plastic bag with baby oil and water-soluble paint. You could use a few colours to help make this more entertaining. You could even add some glitter if you are feeling fancy. Then seal the bag up shut. You might want to use some tape, so there is no leakage. Then let your little one squish it about. This could be a good one for a small table or even a toddler that sits in a high chair.
Stickers
Yes, you read that right, stickers! They don’t necessarily create a mess, but they can keep your child entertained for hours. You could also buy some of the dot stickers you can get online or in stationery shops. Get some different colours, then ask your child to create a masterpiece by using the dots. They could be there for a while, sticking the dots in specific places. This will also be good for their pincer grip and fine motor skills. A great tip is to collect all of those stickers you get in the children’s magazines and then pull them out when you need them entertained for a few minutes.
Endless fun with a box
There is no denying that a box can be hours of entertainment. You could encourage this into more of a craft by allowing them to decorate the box with pictures. Cutting out windows and holes, drawing things and colouring them in, or even painting. If you don’t want the mess, then take the paints outside.
Avoid the usual hands and feet in paint
One craft parents love to do is to get the handprint or footprint in paint and then making cute cards or pictures out of them. But the paint part can be messy. Instead, why not trace around the hand or feet and then colour them in? This can be less messy and can also be a craft that lasts a little longer.
The DIY Ball run
A great craft to make that will then keep children entertained afterwards as well is to create your very own ball run. All you need is a cardboard box, some empty toilet rolls, and some tape. Let your child create their ball run and then test out it. They can make it differently if they want to, as cardboard can be hardwearing, so it won’t rip as easy as paper. You could also create ramps for toy cars using these things as well.
Shadow drawing
An excellent idea for the summer and being outside is to create some shadow drawings. Ask your child to line up one or two of their toys and then trace around the shadows to make pictures. They can then colour them in, paint, or add other crafting things, and do whatever they like.
Hopefully, this has given you some ideas on some of the crafts you can create that are not messy.
Win a set of Chalkola 30 Chalk Pens
To help encourage your children to intake craft ideas that aren’t messy we are lucky enough to have a set of Chalkola 30 Chalk Pens to giveaway.
PRIZE: Chalkola 30 Chalk Pens
To enter simply complete the Gleam widget below, all entries are optional and each one completed will gain you more entries into the random draw.
Chalkola Liquid Chalk Pens
