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at one time, and talk your child through his selections. Take the paper away before too many colors are added and offer a new piece. Give you child a lot of praise, but don't try to guess what the picture is of as your child could get annoyed at wrong guesses.

Offer a chunky brush. Many people allow their children to use finger paints, but I find that this makes it difficult when the time comes to swap over to using brushed. It's quite difficult to explain to a small child that although finger painting was OK last week, it is now necessary to use a brush.

Use painted papers as above or take a marker pen and add to the colors to make a recognisable picture, in the style of pen and wash.

Gluing

A small child is capable of producing some lovely work by gluing things onto a base. You can use a cardboard support for a glued collage of found objects, or you can use papier mache bowls, cardboard tubes, picture frames etc. offer a selection of objects and get your child to glue them in place. Don't worry too much about technique at this stage, and add the glue to the pieces if necessary, offering the glued piece for your child to position.

Once the piece is finished you can go back and add extra glue to secure items that are loose.

Pieces like this make great gifts for grand parents etc, who can use the pots for pens etc.

You can theme your gluing by using natural objects picked up on a walk, leaves from the garden, seeds from the kitchen cupboard, buttons and beads, fabric peices etc.

Have a look at my Helium article on containing the mess when you craft with your children, and above all HAVE FUN!

Learn more about this author, Susan Hibberd.
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