AboutMaryAnn F. Kohl Expertise I am an expert in anything about art for children, but not crafts. I have written over ten books of art ideas for kids, using materials found commonly in most homes. I like easy ideas!
maryann@brightring.com
MaryAnn F. Kohl, author
Experience began writing in 1985 after teaching elementary aged kids for ten years
Question My son is 2 years old and loves doing crafts. However, his daycare center uses staples in a lot of his projects. I'm concerned that he could choke on them or get cut. Is it typical for daycares to use staples? What age is appropriate?
Answer I've never seen any trouble with staples, but I suppose it could happen. It wouldn't be much of a cut if he did get one, and he would learn from it of course. If you don't want him to use staples, then you can talk to the daycare director and request that he not use them until he is three or four.
To answer your question, yes, it is typical for daycares to use staples. The fact that he is using staples makes me question if his daycare knows the difference between ART and CRAFTS. It would be better if he did not do crafts that follow lots of directions and require staples. What is more age appropriate is doing ART, which has no directions or planned outcome, just exploration. HE could use glue or tape and never need staples.
ART is really very different from CRAFTS. I will try to explain:::
Crafts have a little "thing" that the kids are supposed to make, a finished product that a teacher has set up with a sample to follow. Art, on the other other hand, provides materials for the child to explore and try out on their own. That way, no staples would ever be needed.
You might ask your daycare if they are familiar with my books such as "First Art: It's the Process, not the Product" for toddlers and twos, "Preschool Art: It's the Process, Not the Product" for preschooler age, and "Primary Art: It's the Process not the Product" for kindergarten through grade six. These books are on my website with free samples activities from each, and can be purchased through many venues such as bookstores, online, etc. If they don't have these books or know the difference between exploratory art and directed crafts, then they are behind the times and need to come up to the level of other daycares who offer creative art-type experiences. They can contact me to discuss, if they like.
Please write back if you need a different answer or more info. I'm always happy to help if I can.
PS As to age appropriateness of staples, it would depend on the child. My daughters used staplers at age one, but I know kids I wouldn't give a stapler to until kindergarten. (Smile) It depends on the child. The more experience they have with art, the sooner they can manage a stapler and other art tools as well.
