Atelier by Age & Stage
One of our values at Little Kingdoms is longevity. We love incorporating materials into a playroom that can be used for years to come. That being said, we know that some items just aren’t safe or appropriate for certain ages, this is especially true with art supplies. Because of messes and safety, some things we’d offer an 8-year-old just can’t be made available to a toddler. Keep reading to see how we’d set up an art studio space for different ages, what kind of supervision we’d suggest, and how we’d provocate.
Infant/Toddler
When you have an infant/toddler, you’re setting up art provocations for them and you’re present the whole time. They’re likely not getting out materials on their own or working unsupervised. Below are three materials you can introduce to your babe with that in mind!
1) Stabilo Woody 3 in 1 Pencils: Toddlers are just becoming familiar with mark-making and grasps, so these are a fantastic option - perfect for little fingers, incredibly difficult to break, and super easy to wipe off surfaces :) Tape a big piece of butcher paper down on the floor and let your baby scribble scrabble to their heart’s content.
2) Air Dry Clay: This is one of my ~favorite~ things to offer infants and toddlers. The expectation isn’t that they’d sculpt something “David”-adjacent, but get familiar with a new material. You don’t need to limit their sensory experience to touch with their hands either! I loved letting our students walk on the clay with little bare feet!
3) Tape: What a HERO. Tape isn’t sharp, chokable, or unsafe in any way and it doesn’t leave marks… on carpet, furniture, or walls ;) Stick little pieces on the edge of a table, make big double-side loops and put them on the wall, or flatten strips on the floor as a road for their trucks.
Preschool/Early Elementary
Around 4/5/6 children can be trusted with higher stakes materials. Supervision levels might look like a parent getting down materials from high shelves at the beginning of a work time, being in the vicinity, and popping in every once in a while for a check-in. Here are three materials you might see in an atelier for a preschool/elementary aged child.
1) Wire: If a child has only ever used mark-making mediums and feels they’re not “good at it,” they might think they’re not artistic… THEN they’re offered wire and they’re a master sculptor. This is really malleable and can be cut with scissors. Pair it with beads, clay, or a mirror to inspire a self portrait.
Special instruction for beginning of project: Be mindful of where the end of the wire is at all times because it’s sharp. You don’t want to poke your own eyes or anyone else’s.
2) Non-Washable Paints: Think acrylic, fabric paint, and certain water colors (if you want to avoid a permanent mess, give younger children tempera paint!). If a child knows what the expectation is with this paint (shouldn’t go anywhere but the paper or surface you’re supposed to be painting) they can be trusted to use this independently. You can make a plan for spills and clean-up. We find that when children know how to tidy and what’s expected of them, they’re totally capable of doing so and enjoy it!
3) Colored Pencils: These are thin and pointy, which make them less toddler-friendly, and a little better suited for this age. Four-year-olds+ have more developed gross and fine motor skills, which makes it less nerve-racking to put a sharp object in their hands! Colored pencils are the perfect mark-making medium to set out with whatever kind of paper you have laying around. They need very little coaching or caveats.
Preteen
It’s difficult to pair this stage with an age because children will reach it at different times. The milestone of complete independence means everything is always available for your child to access and use on their own. They don’t need support setting or cleaning up, help with following instructions, or for you to curate an experience for them. They’re the dreamer, the doer, and the decision-maker!
1) Hot Glue Gun: This hot glue gun comes with a stand, so when you go to pick it up, the actual glue gun is cordless making it easier and safer to use.
2) X-Acto Knife: These are necessary for high-precision crafts where scissors won’t cut it (pun intended). But they are SuuPPEeERrRrRrr sharp! Show your child how to use it appropriately before adding it to their space.
3) Glitter: Not physically dangerous… but a high stakes material for sure. Sometimes I still feel nervous to use glitter, but if you have a particularly crafty child this will add an undeniable oomph to their projects. Maybe include a little hand vac in their space too ;)
