When do they stop eating the art supplies?

[OnEarth]

I don't give DD (20 mo) crayons because she eats them! And throws a fit when I try to take them away. Of all things we stick to pens and colored pencils because she seems to try to ingest them the least! Would love to do paints but I'm afraid to!

[lach]

Roughly at the stage when the start drawing on the walls :)

Art supplies are still high-supervision toys for my 3 year old.  I swear I'd trust her more with a steak knife than with a crayon.

I was talking to my mother about how I dreaded buying her more craft stuff for Christmas because of the destruction, and with 2 younger kids I felt bad not being able to guarantee working with her on crafts, and my mother said about 5 is when kids can really be trusted to work independently AND not use their art supplies for evil instead of good.

[elmh23]

I think my almost 4 year old can finally be trusted not to eat the art supplies now.  He still can't have playdoh without taking a nibble though.  

By 2 my older child could be trusted.  She needed supervision with paint, but otherwise was fine.

I have a friend who's 6 year old still occasionally mouths on art supplies.  Her 2 year old doesn't.  The 6 year old has sensory issues, particularly in her mouth.

[redvlagrl]

I think it depends on the kid. DD (now 2) doesn't eat crayons and really hasn't ever. But I think this is because she has always been into drawing. She also doesn't eat playdoh but I have seen other kids eat it.I would just supervise closely and repeat "no eating the crayons". You can also say stuff like "if you eat the crayons I will take them away" or "if you want to put something in your mouth I will get you a banana". DD knows that I will take the playdoh/crayons etc away if she doesn't keep them at her table or does something like draw ont he table with them

[tabrizia]

I think it is a kid thing.  DS is more likely to eat or mouth things even at 3 1/2 then DD is at 20 months.  I have felt pretty safe about DD not mouthing things since she was around 13 months old.  It just wasn't an interest to her.  DS on the other hand will still sometimes eat a crayon.  DD prefers to draw with them.