An empty pipe cleaner, glue, glitter, and scissors, $15. A great imagination to turn the mundane into magical? Priceless. THe magical touch is what a child brings to every arts and crafts project. The grownups? Well, it's usually up to them to take care of the rest. This can be hard for some as it does require some imagination and time of their own to create a project and find all of the supplies to make it work. In order to keep things fun for kids and simple for adults, toy manufacturers have come up with great kits that include all of the supplies, instructions, and tools to make a kid's imagination light up.
Best Kits for Kids of All Ages
Here you can find some ideas to help you get started looking for arts and crafts kits. Don't think that this is it though. There are hundreds of ideas out there. The most important thing to remember is that you should always strive for age-appropriate items. That means watch out for the following things:
* Choking hazards, such as small beads or other items, are not suitable for toddlers.
* Difficulty level, including an acute need for detail and dexterity, is important to consider. You want a child to have fun, not to get discouraged.
* Be sure that (if you are not the parent) the arts and crafts toy or kit can be carried out independently by the child or with a little parental supervision. This goes hand in hand with the clean-up factor. If you think it might be too messy, skip it (unless you are the parent and you don't mind cleaning up after your childrens' mess).
* Consider if the arts and crafts toy or kit you get is for a single use or if it will serve for many weekends of play. If it the type of kit that can be used time and time again, how quickly will the novelty wear off?
* Measure the price and quality of what you are buying. Some pre-packaged kits are expensive if they are from a reputable name brand, however, much of the time their quality will be superior to that of a cheap dollar store rip off.
Kits by Age Group
Here you will find a great selection of pre-packaged arts and crafts projects, toys, and supplies that will be sure to please. They are categorized by age to make shopping easier.
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Preschool and Kindergarten Creativity
These suggestions are best for preschoolers and kindergarten students. Some require parental supervision.
Kits for Grade School Kids
These are kits recommended for children between 6 and 8 years old. If you are a parent, you may also want to consider engaging your child in some of the creative activities that you yourself participate in, whether it be in the kitchen, garden, garage, or backyard.
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Arts and Crafts for Older Children
For children aged 8 to 12, try some of these kits. Other areas of interest may include beading,
