Natural art supplies???

[rachie]

I've been wanting my son to play with play doh (or some type of modeling/molding stuff to work with his hands and shape with) and to paint and color and such.

My concern is what's in the typical stuff at the store that mostly comes from China (lead, chemicals, coloring, preservatives???) - especially since once in awhile little dd gets ahold of things and of course they go into her mouth.

Anyone know where I can find an online site to buy natural (SAFE) art/craft supplies for chidlren and/or recipes to make our own, say, play doh??

[moominmamma]

We've always been fond of modeling beeswax. Can't be painted, of course, but it has a lovely scent and consistency, is re-usable, comes in kazillions of colors and is totally non-toxic.

Miranda

[rachie]

Beeswax

Originally Posted by moominmamma

We've always been fond of modeling beeswax. Can't be painted, of course, but it has a lovely scent and consistency, is re-usable, comes in kazillions of colors and is totally non-toxic.

Miranda

Where do you find it for a good price?

[moominmamma]

We buy it (like gum!) as a treat at the little Waldorf store in the town near us when we're heading home, to keep the kids busy in the minivan. We're in a weird corner of rural Canada, though, so I don't suppose that'll do you much good. They do sell on-line, though: www.maplerose.ca.

Miranda

[Lillian J]

Here are some recipes for making your own playdough and other art fun materials. Homemade playdough is much nicer than store bought besides being nontoxic:

Uncooked Play Dough Recipe
Art Recipes
Free Stuff to Entertain Kids

Here's a good article with resource suggestions:
Are art supplies toxic?

And here are some nontoxic materials you can buy:
EcoChoices
Clementine's

Have fun! Lillian

[SundayCrepes]

My 20 month old has oral sensory seeking AKA she puts everything in her mouth. There are some great ideas here I can use for her.

One thing we've been doing lately is painting with applesauce. We add food coloring to make it colored. My 4 year old has loved this much more than his little sister. He asks to do it every day (which we've been doing.) Today his 6 year old friend was over and they spent forever doing this. A week's worth of fun on a $1.89 jar of no sugar added applesauce from super Target. Some people paint with pudding.

Also, here are some playdough recipes. http://www.sensory-processing-disord...h-recipes.html We made the microwavable one. We didn't add coloring until after we made it. Split it into 4 balls then kneaded in some food coloring. My son loved it. There is even a recipe for "edible" playdough. I didn't make it because it's got lots of powdered sugar and honey in it. I really didn't want my little one getting that much sugar.

[happy1nluv]

sundaycrepes - when you paint with applesauce, do you use fingers or a paintbrush? Do you keep the art work afterwards or throw it away? I'm intrigued, but can't wrap my mind around it...

[PreggieUBA2C]

We use natural and homemade materials, some of which come from our kitchen and the rest from the forest and meadows around us. Sticks and strings can be made into a lot of fun objects!

Something along the lines of edible manipulatives though is what dp used to use in kindergarten- coloured puddings. They used flat trays for each child or big drop-sheets made of white plastic. Not natural, but you could use anything that suits you.

I've also seen marshmallow and toothpick sculptures that look pretty fun to do. We don't eat them, but if they were not introduced as food, you might get away with making a few neat things before they are consumed anyway.

I think you could use any small food like kumquats or cherry tomatoes with toothpicks too. Build like with tinker-toys.

[tankgirl73]

Stockmar brand is your best bet for natural art supplies -- paints, pencils, crayons, modelling wax, etc. It is pricier than the cheap stuff, but it lasts MUCH longer too.

Any online Waldorf store should carry them.

[SundayCrepes]

Originally Posted by happy1nluv

sundaycrepes - when you paint with applesauce, do you use fingers or a paintbrush? Do you keep the art work afterwards or throw it away? I'm intrigued, but can't wrap my mind around it...

We've been using fingers because we haven't had any brushes, but you could use BIG brushes with it. We've just been throwing them away. It's a messy project to try and keep.

[rachie]

Coloring

Wow! Great info and ideas!! Thanks so much for sharing all this!!

(I haven't read the ingredients for making your own play doh yet) - but my concern would be the coloring - I need to find food coloring that is not "artificial" food coloring because my son is very sensitive to artificial colors and flavors. (This would also go for coloring applesauce) Unfortunately we can't do the marshmallows or pudding because ds is sensitive to cane sugar and I have yet to find either free of cane sugar.

It is for this reason I'm cautious about store-bought art supplies (what's in them since my son is so sensitive to so many things) - but it will only help to make these at home if I can find the right ingredients.

[SundayCrepes]

Originally Posted by rachie

Wow! Great info and ideas!! Thanks so much for sharing all this!!

(I haven't read the ingredients for making your own play doh yet) - but my concern would be the coloring - I need to find food coloring that is not "artificial" food coloring because my son is very sensitive to artificial colors and flavors. (This would also go for coloring applesauce) Unfortunately we can't do the marshmallows or pudding because ds is sensitive to cane sugar and I have yet to find either free of cane sugar.

It is for this reason I'm cautious about store-bought art supplies (what's in them since my son is so sensitive to so many things) - but it will only help to make these at home if I can find the right ingredients.

The one coloring that comes to mind would be beet juice.

I just googled natural food coloring. Here's one link that came up http://www.naturesflavors.com/default.php?cPath=72 Pricey, but maybe there are other choices out there.

Actually, here's a website on how to make your own natural food colors http://www.ehow.com/how_2302808_make...-coloring.html

and another http://chemistry.about.com/od/holida...tereggdyes.htm

[rachie]

coloring

I also googled it and found this:

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/...al-food-color-

I think it's a bit cheaper and says it's vegan and kosher.

[rachie]

What about paints??

What about paints like water colors and such?

[rachie]

paints

Found these!!

http://www.globiton.com/paints.html

[SandyBeachBums]

We order from waldorfsupplies.com

It's not really natural, but we make kool-aid playdough. I do the uncooked playdough.