Coloring/art age?

[MommyJogger]

This is going to sound like a bucket of crazy from someone with a really young baby, but when is it appropriate to start giving them paper and drawing tools? I assume I'll at least have to wait until he wouldn't immediately gnaw on the crayon and when he develops an appropriate grip, but I was wondering on average when this would become entertaining/beneficial. And what were the first 'tools' your LOs used? Crayons? Color pencils? Watercolor for finger-painting?
Does it make sense to let him try when he can properly use utensils? I looked this up and got a huge range of ages. Thanks!

 

[bananaz]

I'm not 100% sure about the answer to this but I know that on the 12-month ASQ they ask whether your baby will scribble on paper if you show them how first, so I'm guessing a year is around when they might start? I would probably offer crayons or finger paints at that age.

 

[Kel127]

I didn't buy any for my son until he was almost 2 thinking that before then it was pointless, but my almost 1 year old starting coloring with crayons and using sidewalk chalk at about 10 months. She colors better at 1yr then my son does at 3 years old.

 

[Nat0619]

I've been wondering this as Ciara is 1 in a few weeks and I wondered whether to get her crayons/paints as a birthday present. But I've decided against it as Ciara tries to eat everything at the mo! I think she has the manual dexterity to hold something but I need to wait until she won't eat them x

 

[SarahBear]

I don't know the answer to your question, but I knew a 14 month old who certainly could color. I suspect that the answer to your question is somewhere around a year old, give or take a little.

 

[Pielette]

I've started giving my LO pens and paper (washable pens lol!) in the last couple of months. It's only in the last month or so that he's understood the concept when I've shown him and is starting to enjoy scribbling and drawing over everything.

 

[Seity]

We had stuff around since he was 1, but he never showed any interest in drawing/coloring until he was nearly 3. My sister's younger girl was really into it around 15 months. So it'll vary a lot based on the child's personality/interests.

 

[fannyadams]

It depends how clean you like your house!
My 15 month old will draw with pens etc but prefers the walls, the sofa, my clothes, the dog etc to paper.
You can get wash off/non toxic pens suitable from a year but they don't wash off everything.

 

[snowfia]

Any age lol.
My LO has used pens, pencils, crayons, paint with a paintbrush etc.
The most successful was paint and felt tips cos she didn't press hard enough with the others :L I did do that at a baby group tbh but am going to do it in the summer outside with her

 

[Mummy Bean]

if ur in the uk early learning centre do these beginers crayons/chalks that xome in a chunky easy to hold case...which say for 18ish month olds...i just got these for my son who 1 and he seems to do well with it.

 

[DaddyDanny]

I started my toddler on crafts & art at 8 months old, when he had enough control to hold a marker on a piece of paper. We would paint & color with markers because he couldn't press a pen/pencil/crayon down hard enough for it to look dark. He didn't really know what he was doing until 11 months, but he still had fun. Now, he understands and loves it. We make crafts for every holiday - he does all of the coloring, and I do all of the cutting.

 

[candyem]

We have finger painted a few times. LO still uses markets and crayons as drum sticks most of the time but is beginning to make marks. We do lots of messy play instead. He loves playing with his bath toys in rainbow spaghetti and playing with wooden spoons and jelly.

 

[Emma11511]

I was Just wondering this! Does anyone know if theres any paints specifically for babies? Obviously I'd stop him from eating it, but I'd like to get some that would be safe if he did put his fingers in his mouth. sorry for highjacking the thread op! X

 

[snowfia]

You can make something out of corn flour, water and food colouring I think? Something like that, that they can use as paint

 

[DaisyBee]

Jordan won't color or paint yet. She puts it in her mouth instantly.

Most daycare kids were 18 months average when coloring and doing small art things.

 

[GracieGoo]

crayola do come chunky hand held paint pod thing (its like a chunky pen but has paint inside), and they are 12 mths plus.

We made a craft toolbox and gave that to my ds for his first birthday. It included, pens, crayons, paints, a water doodle, aprons, splash mats, paper, and baby colouring books. We have a play with it every few days. He doesnt get it, but the picking up and grabbing should surely help dexterity skills and imo if they dont have it they wont know so for us even though he was quite young it was a good gift to learn some creativity eventually. He does take more of an inyerest these days and seems to concentrate well which is good thing as normally he is just go go go....

In the last few months we have had a go at some cooking as well which has been brilliant. From making funny face pizzas, to cookies and chocolate nests for easter. He might not understand the concept, but it has kind of taught him to wait whilst mummy is cutting up some more peppers for the pizza, a bit of messy play with the cookie dough where he got really stuck in, and crushing the shredded wheat for the easter nests which he found hilarious....

 

[HappyAnjeL]

I just bought Abby some crayons for Easter and she loves them, although she really hasn't had a chance to actually sit down and draw yet.. Crayola makes crayons and markers that are shaped like animals and even mess free ones that are for 12 months up.

https://www.crayola.com/browse-products.aspx#//age:12,12

 

[Gem_Clem]

Ive been doing it with LO since she was about 8 months old, just with paint, I put out a huge waterproof table cover on the floor (wooden floor) then a massive sheet of paper, squirt the paints on it and she loves to mixed it all over with her hands and make handprints and in general just a mess! lol I got the paints from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crayola-Beginnings-Washable-Finger-Paints/dp/B0002HNO2W/ref=sr_1_1?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1364906090&sr=1-1

Also got her this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004JUYUEY/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So she can do handprints and swirls without the mess!

 

[XJessicaX]

DD1 was enjoying drawing (scribbling) from 9 months. Best way to keep a baby occupied!