I want to get a craft drawer ready for my son so we can do projects together. What kind of things would you put in the drawer for a 2 year old?
What are some good projects that would keep his interest & would be easy for him to do?
We color & play with play-doh now. I also have little work books that he enjoys doing & of course reading.

By My2cuties on Thursday, November 4, 2004 - 01:39 pm:

construction paper, pipe cleaners, glue and scissors (under supervision of course), My dd loves to glue and cut so those are really interesting to them at this age. Even water paints or sidewalk chalk (if it is not too cold right now) are great things as well.

By Melanie on Thursday, November 4, 2004 - 01:57 pm:

I also included cut up clothes that were bad shape and couldn't be donated so the kids could use the fabric to glue on to things. Also, ribbon, scraps of gift wrap, popsicle sticks, beads and buttons (if she won't put it in her mouth, of course!), colored pasta. Also keep on hand shoeboxes, paper bags, etc. Have fun!

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, November 4, 2004 - 03:58 pm:

Yarn, cotton balls (white and the colored ones), those styrofoam *peanut* things that come in packages (we call those ghost poo! LOL), fabric scraps, glitter, glitter pens, washable markers, shoe laces, modeling clay........ I'll keep thinking.

By Feona on Thursday, November 4, 2004 - 05:11 pm:

Oh my goodness. I filled up a six draw plastic draw bin.

Elmers makes the greatest paint!

Paint
brushes
markers
crayons
play doh
Glue
construction paper
white paper cheapest is from staples
Stickers
Gosh just anything you can glue and paint and stick.

By Vicki on Thursday, November 4, 2004 - 06:13 pm:

googly eyes!!

By Tunnia on Thursday, November 4, 2004 - 07:36 pm:

I have a rubbermaid container that we call "The Craft Box". My children LOVE it when I get it out and we almost never have to run to the store for craft items when my dd has to do a project for school because I really keep it stocked. Here's a list of what's in it (that I can remember):
*Glues - Elmer's, Tacky, stitchless, stick, crazy, and glitter
*hot glue gun and glue sticks to go with it
*felt in an array of colors
*silk flowers in assorted colors and sizes
*wiggly eyes
*foam board
*tape
*pipe cleaners in assorted colors
*pom-poms in assorted colors and sizes
*stickers
*scissors - both regular and several pair that cut in shapes
*construction paper
*card stock
*ribbon of assorted colors and sizes
*tempra paints
*stencils
*stencil paints
*paint brushes - assorted sizes
*watercolors
*a huge box of crayons
*fabric crayons
*markers - washable and permanent
*popcicle sticks
*wooden craft spoons
*wooden shapes
*yarn
*embroidery thread
*buttons
*plastic jewels
*beads of assorted shapes, sizes, and colors
*pencil sharpener
*colored, charcoal, and #2 pencils
*fake fur
*cloth - assorted patterns and colors
*fabric paints - glitter, puffy, and irridescent
*a sketch pad

When I go to Walmart or craft stores I always check out their clearance craft items and even if I don't need anything specific, I pick up anything that I think might be useful in the future. HTH

By Kaye on Friday, November 5, 2004 - 03:30 pm:

Oh and now that it is christmas they make really cheap chirstmas ornaments you can paint, wooden or ceramic, it makes for a fun day's project. We also did a lot of making salt dough ornaments, like for halloween I would cut out pumpkins, my dd would paint them orange and then I would add eyes with a sharpie.

By Unschoolmom on Friday, November 5, 2004 - 08:03 pm:

Toilet paper and paper towel tubes!!! Can't believe no one mentioned those. Egg cartons, colourful and big bottle tops, a few old flyers (they're great for cutting out neat pictures, letters and numbers), etc. I buy lots of craft supplies but it's the stuff I've recycled from other sources that seem to get used the most.

By Emily7 on Friday, November 5, 2004 - 08:52 pm:

Such great ideas. Thanks everyone.

By Marcia on Friday, November 5, 2004 - 11:21 pm:

Just a word of caution - those little foamy packing things are deadly if eaten. They get caught in the throat, cause choking, and x-rays can't see them. This was a huge no no when I was working in a child development centre. They do have some now that are made of cornstarch, so they are safe.

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, November 6, 2004 - 09:13 am:

That's true, Marcia. I never thought of that. My kids used them in projects, but they never thought to put them in their mouths. However, I didn't take into consideration than other kids *might* do that, when I listed those.

You could get some styrofoam balls at a craft store to make ornaments with. We did that when we were kids - using ribbons, glitter, beads, paint, etc. I even did that with mine when they were young. That was a favorite project of mine.

Dawn has some great suggestions too.

Stacy, you've got the best stocked craftbox of anyone I know! Can *I* come play at your house???

By Tunnia on Saturday, November 6, 2004 - 09:48 am:

Sure Karen, come on over and play! Everybody loves my craft box. I even haul it up to my dk's schools a couple of times a year to do crafts with the kids in the classrooms. Those kids go nuts over all that stuff and I really enjoy watching them use their imaginations to make things. Since I see those kids having so much fun with my craft box I have started making mini craft boxes for my dk's to give to friends as birthday gifts and they are always a hit. My dk's teachers also love my craft box. When there is a specific item they need and can't find they call me to see if I have it - and I usually do. LOL

By Tink on Saturday, November 6, 2004 - 11:08 am:

Stacy, your craft box would be my oldest dd's idea of heaven! You've inspired me to make up a more extensive box for our *stuff*. Sometimes being clutter-phobic works against me.