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MEDIA RESOURCES
Crafting with Kids: Top Tips to Make It Fun and Safe
Editor's Note: High-Resolution Photography is Available
Need to corral a wild hippopotamus for your fantasy jungle? Or blast off to Planet X with a zany purple Martian? Whatever your child's fantasy, STYROFOAM* brand foam can make it happen. The genuine craft foam is inexpensive, readily available and easily adapts to kids' wildest whims. We offer the following suggestions to be sure that you and your children - whether you're working one-on-one or with a wired group of 20, have a fun and rewarding crafting experience:
- Always have an adult on the job to supervise.
- To avoid frustration (yours and the child's), select a project that is age appropriate.
- Consider the child's interests when selecting the craft project. Another good guideline is to find a project related to a popular trend or figure.
- Always review the instructions ahead of time and if at all possible, create a sample; double-check the accuracy of the materials list, measurements and step-by-step instructions. Anticipate trouble areas and questions. Kids will find a model extremely helpful when creating their own projects.
- Make sure you have enough materials and time to complete the project.
- Prepare ahead - pre-cut ribbons, pour paint into smaller containers and pre-cut the STYROFOAM brand foam as needed. Create a mini kit with all materials for each child, and have a "kit" set out for each child before beginning the project.
- Create a safe and organized work area. Cover the work surface and floor with newspapers, plastic or an old sheet or tablecloth. Have enough chairs for all of the children. Remove from the area any objects that are fragile or valuable. You'll find this advance prep makes clean up easier, too.
- Just in case, be sure you have handy a roll of paper towels or old rags to wipe up spills.
- Let your child wear one of your old T-shirts to protect his or her clothes - make it fun and pretend it's an artist's smock.
- Store the glue upside-down in a tin can or plastic cup so the glue is at the tip and will squeeze out more easily.
- Use thick, tacky glue for a better hold and faster drying.
- To keep down costs, look around the house for extra items that will spark kids' creativity - buttons, yarn, string, fabric scraps, paper, tin foil, etc. Start a stash of fun materials for future rainy day projects.
- Plan group craft activities for when your child has friends over - this will help keep them busy and feed their imaginations.
- Write names on paper bags ahead of time, and use the bags to store the finished projects and for children to carry home their projects.
®™* Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") or an affiliated company of Dow
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