when did you let your kids first have markers or crayons?

[sake]

I follow the blog of someone who's baby is like 18 months, and actually coloring "scribbling" on coloring sheets and stuff with crayons.

I don't think it would have crossed my mind to give a baby under 2 crayons....

I don't know anything about this really though. i have experience with babies under 1, and over 3.

What did you guys do?

[Deleted]

E has been playing with crayons and such since about 18 months. He loves them and it keeps him busy at restaurants.

[revolution]

Crayons. Both of my kids love/loved scribbling all over paper starting at maybe 18 months. DS is 23 months and one of his absolute favorite things to do is color. He will come over and ask "I color?" And I die at his cuteness.

Just make sure they are washable crayons at that age.

[KKD]

Em was around 18 months. Kate was even younger, 15, maybe even 12 months.

eta: That's for crayons. I held off on markers for much, much longer. And I always make sure the crayons and markers are washable; any that aren't get tossed or saved for when they're older.

[housewife]

We started with finger paint around 9-10 months. No idea with crayons got thrown in, but somewhere around then.

[iamali]

Markers?

Are you a masochist??

FOR REALS.

Someone tell Gracelands marker on the white couch story. Oh shit. Maybe that was popsicles?

[jena]

I think it was the 15mo check when the pedi asked me if she could hold a crayon and scribble. I told her I never gave her one to find out! So I went straight to the store to buy some.

But she was close to 2 when she really had any interest in coloring.

PSA: they make washable crayons. Do not let the regular kind in your house.

Also, triangular crayons may save your sanity even if they aren't as sturdy as the jumbo crayons.

[papie]

Around 12-13 months I think.

[eb777888]

I don't think he was that into it at 18 months. Like, I'd give him a crayon and paper and he'd be like "cool" and color for about five seconds and then he would try to eat the crayon. He was coloring at 2.

[ax2]

Ds is 13 months and loves to scribble. With maximum supervision.

[sake]

Awesome, good to know. This might be a stocking gift.

[Deleted]

I know this is a pointless question, but if you are babysitting kids (and watching your own), are you looking at developmental skills charts or lists or activities in their age ranges? Or are your services more playroom 24/7? Idk, I would just assume you would be up on this stuff if this is your current job. Especially if it made it easier to keep the kids busy, even if the parents were just looking for a caregiver to babysit vs. teach.

[Deleted]

Washable crayons only. The triangular ones. Trust me.

[ElizabethBennet]

I started giving them to her around 12 months, but she wasn't at all interested till around 15 months.

[Deleted]

I hate crafts.

G has colored at the gym daycare since she was just barely two. She still tried to nibble the crayons occasionally.

Payne has colors at school. I don't remember when he started at restaurants etc.

[speckledfrog]

I think he was less than a year. We just did them in his high chair, so he was really contained.

[Deleted]

Max mostly just likes carrying crayons around the room. He gathers them all up and goes somewhere to sort and admire them lol he only just started scribbling at 20 months or so. I don't love the mess but he's pretty cute with them. Loves his art supplies.

[daisyheadmaizie]

Around 12 months. I use the high chair so the containment is at a maximum level. Sometimes I let him paint too, especially if I already have the stuff out for DD.

[muppetinma]

Andrew is going to be 20 months this week and coloring has been his favorite thing in the world for months now. And I use the non-washable jumbo crayola crayons. I actually find them MUCH less messy than the washable ones. The washable ones smudge and get all over everything.

[eav2c]

We started with crayons around 15m. I haven't even considered markers.

[LLL]

2ish? he would eat them. dd is 14 months and is not ready

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2013 21:13:33 GMT -5 @bigtowlittletoe said:

I know this is a pointless question, but if you are babysitting kids (and watching your own), are you looking at developmental skills charts or lists or activities in their age ranges? Or are your services more playroom 24/7? Idk, I would just assume you would be up on this stuff if this is your current job. Especially if it made it easier to keep the kids busy, even if the parents were just looking for a caregiver to babysit vs. teach.

IMO raising kids is pretty intuitive.

And when that fails you ask someone else who is doing it/has done it.

(Points up)

[Deleted]

L loves coloring. She's had crayons for a long time, probably younger than 18 months. She even uses colored pencils and pens now.

[Deleted]

They were a year w crayons and I only let them have markers for very special things (started around 18m). They were heavily supervised w crayons until 18m and now we can be in the open kitchen w them coloring in the living room (we can see them). Markers are in high chairs.

They looooooooove coloring. I wish we'd started crayons earlier tbh, even though it would have been a lot of whacking and eating.

Buy washable crayons!

[Deleted]

Not a mom but SIL has been coloring with my nephew since he was about 13-15 months-ish. He LOVES to color and will be 3 in January.

[tdk2]

Around a year I think. Maybe earlier. We're an art family though.

I was so proud today- she did her first project w liquid glue today instead of just glue sticks. She ROCKED with it and sharing it back as forth w her friend.

Anyway- I was eager to start the coloring fun so it didn't occur to me to wait.

Crayons are allowed to be left in her crayon box unattended but markers are only brought out under supervision. (Mainly because she had some incidents when Dh was with her... And I suspect he was on the phone doing business stuff and she got bored.). Sharpies on occasion. She loves those of course.

[ProfessorArtNerd]

We got Lucy those crayola markers and crayons that look like little people at like 9 months. Around the same age for finger paints. But we are both artists sooooo.

[tdk2]

Dec 10, 2013 23:21:16 GMT -5 ProfessorArtNerd said:

We got Lucy those crayola markers and crayons that look like little people at like 9 months. Around the same age for finger paints. But we are both artists sooooo.

Oh yeah, I forgot about those. It was more like 9 months I bet then. I gave her those shortly after we for back from Australia and she was 8months on the flight home so I would have to guess 9 or 10 months. And same - crayons and markers she got for 1st bday weren't her first ones so we must have done a bunch earlier than that. (Also an art family here. Well, my side of the family. And not as awesome/full time employed in art as yours!)

[tdk2]

@quesera we have a list maker too. When I was rushing toget us out the door for thanksgiving. Out of town travel, I was checking off my "day of departure" list (yes, I make a lot of lists). She grabbed a notebook and crayons and sat on the steps writing her own list. Careful squiggles btwn the lines in the notebook. Cracks me up. Except she loves to steal my lists and pens all the time.

I used to make a list of things to do while she ate breakfast. That had to stop EARLY on because she wouldn't eat and just wanted my pen and paper. I miss my morning list, lol.

[iamgrace]

Henry was about 15 months when we started colouring.