Art with Ashley: Keep Things Neat

Want to be creative with your children, but you’re a little bit “Type A” and still a little bit skeptical of the mess that it could make? Here are some tips for keeping those messes at bay.

• Add a couple of drops of liquid soap/detergent to paints to make washing out of clothes a little bit easier.
• Save old egg cartons for paint palettes and simply toss when the painting is complete.
• Cut the arms out of an old rain coat and let your child wear backwards for a smock. Trash bags with the holes for the arms and head make great disposable smocks for when friends are over or you don’t have a smock on hand. Use twist ties to gather the shoulders for smaller children. Try to be as earth-friendly as you can and wipe them for reuse if possible.
• Cut a hole in the middle of a sponge to hold a paint cup. The sponge will catch spills and also keep the paint cup from tipping.
• Let children work on cookie sheets with edges if you are working with play doh or small pieces/ beads, etc. The edges will keep items from rolling on the floor.
• Moon Sand…what fun….but, what mess! Use a large tupperware container for kids to play in. Simply close the lid when you’re done and store the Moon Sand here. Clean-up couldn’t be any easier.