My older boy, 3 1/2 years old, loves doing crafts and I just situate him on the other side of the table from his brother, 21 months old. My younger boy eats art supplies. If I give him crayons, he eats them like crackers. I bought large washable Crayola markers--he bites the tips off and chews them up. He puts paint in his mouth and then makes faces. Unfortunately, he also LOVES doing crafts, smearing things on paper, etc. Does anyone have some good edible art recipes? Food-based finger paint? Any things that work well for "drawing?" I haven't tried ice cubes on construction paper (he'd probably choke himself on the ice cube), and will probably try pudding one of these days, but I would love to include him a bit more without him treating [unfortunately expensive] art supplies like snacks. Thanks! :)
p.s. I have tried letting him toss cornmeal on paint for texturing--any good edible but malleable clay ideas? He is very hands-on with food and such. We also do some crafts with paper and glue, so I am looking for alternatives to crayons, markers, and paint, not general craft ideas. With the weather warming up we'll be playing in mud a bit more, but I want some indoor ideas. Thanks!
I will try some of the ideas--I haven't made ooblek with them for a while (I know I spelled that wrong--basically water and corstarch, but it is fun to manipulate and play with). Some people put everything in their mouths (I know plenty of adults who chew on their hair, bite pens and pencils, chew gum--which grosses me out), so I'm not worried about him in general. He does the crafts, but after a few scribbles it seems like the finale is biting off the marker. I might also try letting him paint with brushes instead of his fingers.
I keep checking new ideas. I don't think there's anything wrong with children who do eat craft materials, especially if we are making sure they are non-toxic to begin with. As I mentioned, I know grown-ups who chew gum, and I'm sure their doctors do not think they have some kind of developmental problem. I like putting my hands in food for the textural experience (kneading bread, crumbling butter in pie crust, etc.) and also like to let them help with that kind of activity--we spread our pizza crust by hand, etc. I do not know of children who grow up confused because they play with a variety of textures and kinds of materials. Water is a good idea, too. It is fun to do water on construction paper. When my older boy has playdough out, my younger has blocks and cars on the other side of the table and is pretty happy to watch.
Tell him NO and if he continues putting inedible thing in his mouth remove him from the table. Tell him if he cant color like a big boy he cant play with his brother. At 2 he is certainly old enough to understand. Just say NO!!!
if it isn't too late to answer, I would just have the baby at the table but give him age appropriate toys. that he likes, you don't have to have him doing art if he isn't interested. wait till he's older, right now i think he just wants to be with you guys.
HI M.
We always used pudding for finger painting.
homemade play dough, I have a great recipe that always has worked for me.
As far as crayons and the like I think I would pick nap time to do those and keep them special for the older child.
Any kind of unbaked cookies would be fun for both
Helping you mix other cookies/etc is always fun.
Hope you get lots of ideas, but it won't be long til he stops eating them.
God bless
You may want to try food coloring for paint and mix flour and water into a dough for play dough. You can cut beets into sticks and let him color with that.
I really would have to ask myself why is he eating this stuff. I have four
kids and none would think of eating this stuff. Check with your ped
before trying to figure out ediible art.
I have to be honest, I wouldn't try to find him edible art supplies. I would not want to encourage him to think it's okay to eat art supplies, sets him up for bad habits, and he could eat the crayons, clay or markers at a friend's house, a babysitters or preschool when he goes to those places. I think the more important lesson is not to eat those things. He may like them, but he is not old enough to use them. There is nothing wrong with making him wait until he is old enough to play with these things properly.
There is actually an edible (though it doesn't taste very good) play-dough. My friends mother gave me the recipe but I've lost it. I could email her and get it for you though. It has the exact consistency of the play-dough brand and if you weren't told you probably wouldn't know the difference. Here's one I just found on google that may taste a little better:
about 18 oz. of peanut butter
about 6 tbsp. of honey
about 1 1/2 cups of powdered milk
Mix all ingredients well. Add powdered milk until the playdough is workable with your hands. This is a fun recipe for kids to play with and certainly has a yummy taste. Optional: Use raisins, nuts, or candy to decorate. Don't forget to eat!
Please make sure your hands are clean during this project for sanitary purposes!
Here's the other one I was just telling you about, I've found it online. Doesn't taste as good as the other I'm sure but still edible:
Kool-Aid Play Dough
Ingredients:
* 1 cup flour
* 1 cup water
* 1/2 cup salt
* 3 teaspoons cream of tartar
* 1 package Kool-Aid Mix (any flavor of unsweetened)
* 1 tablespoon cooking oil
Instructions:
* Mix dry ingredients together in a large saucepan
* Slowly add water mixed with oil and stir over medium heat until mixture thickens to dough
* Turn out onto a heatproof bread board or counter top and knead until cool enough for children to handle
* Dough will be the color of the Kool-Aid mix and will smell like the Kool-Aid mix
* Can be stored in a tightly covered container for up to six months.
Good luck and if you need edible art supplies just google that and I'm sure you'll find something. I saw something about edible paint on there but I didn't look at it.
-Jackie
I just wanted to tell you that I have the same problem with my daughter who just turned 2. I feel like I can't do any crafts or big kid art projects with Big Sis when she is around. I want her to participate but she is not interested and just sucks on the markers, draws on herself etc. I don't know about you but saying NO just doesn't seem to work. Two year olds are old enough to understand the word but not old enough to really control their impulses. And you can't really just remove them from the situation if you are the only one at home with both of them like I am-that wouldn't be safe. Besides, my daughter just climbs right back up on the chair. :) I'll be reading your responses--you've already gotten lots of good ones. Great question and Good luck!
Hi M.:
In my experience, I have found that when a person eats indigestible items, the body may be deficient of a vitamin or mineral. You may want to explore that further.
All the best,
N.
Founder/Organic Mommy & Baby Healthcare Solutions
www.WholeCreations.com
Edible paint:
http://www.ehow.com/how_###-###-####_make-edible-paint.html
I have a great book you should get.. I need to find it so I can give you the title. It's full of homemade (safe to eat, though probably not tasty) goo, playdoh, paint. If I can locate it I will update this.
Found it -- It's a Scholastic book --- The Ultimate Bo'ok of Kid Concoctions by John E Thomas and Danita Pagel.
What about instant mashed potatoes with food coloring as play doh? I haven't tried it but it should be pretty easy to do. You might want to do an internet search on Yuk. They make it in my son's preschool but I don't have a specific recipe.
Peanut Butter Playdoh
Recipe #1: Mix together
1/2 cup Peanut Butter
1 cup powdered milk
1/2 cup honey
Recipe #2: Mix together equal parts Corn Starch and Peanut butter
Recipe #3: Mix together equal amounts of creamy peanut butter and Marshmallow Creme
Paint:
1 can sweetened condensed milk
several drops food coloring
Clay Candy:
Ingredients:
10 ounces chocolate, almond bark or melting candy discs
1/3 cup corn syrup
Directions:
Slowly melt candy and stir until smooth. Add syrup and blend thoroughly. Pour onto waxed paper and spread with fingers until about 1/2 inch thick. Cover loosely with waxed paper and permit to stiffen for a few hours. Children can play with this "clay" making worms or letters or flowers or whatever.
I haven't made the clay, so I'm not sure how clay-like it really is. For paint, you could use lots of things. I used flat cool whip once, it was oily and required a bath afterwards. I don't recommend that. I was curious to see if I could find a recipe for crayons when I read your question and I did find this site: http://luxirare.com/crayon/ but that looks pretty complicated. I just skimmed it, so I don't know. I couldn't think of a solution to the marker problem, if he bites off the tips. Instead of paper, you might use a placemat that is wipeable, but not slick, if you know what I mean. Good luck!
if you are into avoiding the issue all together, let him play with ketchup, mustard, mayo, like you said, pudding...just let him go nuts. i just have to wonder, at what point do you draw the line and teach him the difference between food and not food? he's almost two. he should be quite able to understand the difference. when you see him put it in his mouth, or head that way, tell him no, and take it away. it is a phase they all go through. they have to be taught what is edible and what is not.
Make your own play-dough without chemicals:
http://billiediscoverytoys.blogspot.com/2008/08/speaking-...
Or, use this Gingerbread Man recipe and eat your artwork!
http://billiediscoverytoys.blogspot.com/2010/01/measure-u...
It's certainly fun to make things with stuff you can eat, but I'm not sure that will discourage him from putting things in his mouth that he shouldn't.
It might have the opposite effect.
My kids are 10 years apart so I know how much little ones want to make things too, and you should certainly buy things that are non-toxic to be safe, but art supplies aren't food. Pens, pencils, paint, glue...if my son tried to eat them, art time was over for him and he had to play with something else. He didn't like it, but that's how he learned. We made lots of things for relatives with their handprints and I didn't want him licking the paint off his fingers.
I think it's great your little ones like being creative and I hope you get some great responses.
Finger painting with corn syrup and food coloring on poster board is fun. Cut out designs from black construction paper and lay on top for stained glass effect. Painting with water is fun too, just make sure the brush is clean in case it goes in the mouth. My youngest ate markers when I wasn't looking too... she's 10 now and isn't a very picky eater....lol
