Arts & Crafts

Arts and crafts without the mess

Every set here is made for small hands and quick clean-up, and each one practises the hand control that writing will need later. The Water Colouring Mat draws with plain water and dries blank, the Magnetic Doodle Board wipes clean, and the Mosaic Screw Set builds pictures with a real screwdriver. Ages 3 and up.

What each one practises

• Magnetic Doodle Board and Water Colouring Mat (ages 3–5): pencil grip and stroke control, with no mess to manage.
• Shape Stencil Drawing Set (ages 3–6): shape names, learned while drawing around an edge.
• Button Push Picture Boards (ages 3–7): finger strength and colour matching, one button at a time.
• Pattern Cube Set (ages 3–5): seeing a picture as a grid of parts.

Worth knowing

Mess-free sets are the easiest to leave out on a table, and a set that stays within reach tends to be used far more than one kept in a cupboard.

Further reading

How to teach a child to hold a pencil, stage by stage, and 30 activities for kids at home.