15 Tips to Make Preschool Craft Time Fun

Preschool craft time is fun for preschoolers. It isn't about the finished work. It’s about experiencing and learning about life, craft materials, and their own creativity. Here are 15 tips to make preschool craft time fun and easier for both you and the kids.

1. Don’t fuss over the mess. Chances are the kids are going to make a mess, want to use the "wrong” color, or glue a piece on upside down. Let them do it their way. None of their projects has to turn out looking like the pictures -- neither does yours. Just have fun!

2. Have reasonable expectations. Every child isn’t ready for every activity in at the same age. If your child can’t cut with scissors yet, let him/her try his/her best and help out if asked. The practice will do him/her good.

3. Prepare for preschool craft time. Make it easy on both of you by using precut or previously prepared craft supplies when possible. If the materials need prepping, do it before the kids sit down to play. 

4. Use only non-toxic materials for your preschool crafts. If you have a baby in the house, be sure to keep all items small enough to be swallowed out of his/her reach.

5. Use disposable or washable craft aprons. You can buy disposable and washable craft aprons for craft stores. Only do preschool crafts in old clothes that are expendable or buy special clothes to be used for crafts only.

6. Choose a proper place for doing your preschool crafts. Create crafts in a room where there is no carpet like the kitchen or even outdoors.

7. Protect the surfaces of your preschool craft area. Cover the work surface with newspapers and a disposable plastic tablecloth.

8. Keep wastebaskets closeby. Having easily accessible wastebaskets closeby make cleaning up as you go a snap. Keep wastebaskets or grocery bags at every seat around the table to dispose of scraps as you go.

9. Keep enough preschool craft supplies on hand. Be sure there are enough supplies like scissors and glue so there is no waiting. Waiting turns is when conflicts start.

10. Do your preschool crafts in steps. When you have very small children, give them the materials one step at a time. Materials they don’t need yet will confuse them. Have them ready, but keep them aside until the kids are ready for them.

11. Get everyone involved in clean up. Let the kids be responsible for cleaning up (yes, even if it takes longer). Have a special container or cart that supplies go on and a place for each item.

12. Keep water and towel handy. If your room has no sink, keep a bucket of water and paper towels or rags handy for cleaning hands. That way paint and glue doesn’t end up everywhere else on the way to the bathroom.

13. Set a preschool craft time. Set aside a regular time at least once a week to do crafts with your kids. Pick a time, day, and place that works for all of you and stick to it. Routine makes things run more smoothly, especially for kids. 

14. Choose age appropriate preschool craft supplies. The younger the child, the larger the tools (like pencils and brushes) and materials need to be. 

15. Lead by example. The best way to teach your preschool child how to do the craft is to lead by example and make a craft yourself. S/he will learn more from watching you than from verbal instruction. Be free to express yourself and they will follow. 

Something to Help you Stay Organized

The Crayon Caddy is a great way to keep your preschooler’s art and craft supplies neatly organized and convenient to use. The sections are divided into several different sizes to accommodate different types of art supplies. The sections make it easy for preschoolers to learn how to put their supplies away. You may even be able to use more than one to organize different types of supplies for different types of crafts such as one for crayons, scissors, pencils, and glue; one for paint brushes and paint, and one with pompoms, chenille stems, fabric markers, and fabric glue. That way everything you need is together and can be brought out all at once.