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Children love to create. It's a natural desire since the time they were able to sit up and finger paint with rice cereal on their high chair tray-top. If nurtured, this love of art will thrive as they grow. Having an outlet for creativity is so important to the well being of children.(And adults too)

Being a mom of two small boys, and an artist, my house always has a ready supply of fresh, white paper and all the typical small-child medium to draw and paint with. But how about taking it a step further? There is an endless supply of craft items out there just waiting for you and your children to discover.

Go to any discount department store or craft/material store and you are certain to find all sorts of wonderful things.
Here are a few lists of supplies I highly recommend;

First the basics;
1) Construction paper
2) Glue
3) Markers and crayons
4) Paint (both water-color and tempura)
5) Scissors
6) Brushes
7) Tape

Most items are child-friendly non-toxic these days, but don't forget to double check. Once you have these essential basics, it is time to expand. This is when it really gets fun!

Try out some:
1) Feathers
2) Pom-poms
3) Fuzzy-wire-bendy-things(we used to call them "pipe-cleaners" back in the ancient70's).
4) Self adhesive jewels
5) Glitter
6) Googly eyes
7) Sticky foam shapes
8) Stickers
9) Little packs of misc. card stock.

Also start saving a modest collection of paper roll tubes, oatmeal or grit containers, frozen juice cans, paper bags of all shapes and sizes, and pieces of cardboard.

Plastic containers with tight lids can be used to store and organize your supplies. Ziploc bags come in real handy for this too. If you dread the thought of all those containers wandering about the house, buy a large tub to put them in and store at child-eye-level. I like a wicker laundry basket for this purpose, not only because I have a thing for baskets, but also I like the idea of it being open and visible to the kids so they can get inspired.

Please don't think you have to get everything all at once! Pick and choose what will delight your own small artists.

When the kids are settled down and happily creating butterflies with pipe cleaner antennae and pom-pom wings, glitter pictures of space ships and fireworks, paper-bag masks and juice can pencil holders covered with googly-eyed critters, join in! It is so much fun and they will love having you there creating with them. It'll make their day and yours too!

Learn more about this author, Lynn Schwalbe-Larson.
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