Markers
Please tell me if you have a great idea for markers. I have several new kids who have never been in a program. They are not putting lids back on the markers. I have gone down to only having a few markers out at a time to make cleanup more manageable until they can handle having more. Still, I'd like to know if you have any marvelous ideas! I like the marker stands that have holes to put the lids and then you just snap the correct colored marker in the lid.....but I've only seen large ones....that hold about 16 markers. I'd love to find on that holds 10....just how many a box of markers come in and is manageable for kids to carry around. I just can't find it. I know you can make them....but I'm not going to do that. I'd mess it up.
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I have a set of markers for each kid. They're bagged with their name on it. It amazed me at how careful the kids were when they were their "own" markers! It has helped my crew and it's nice that they have something of their own.
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What kind of bags do you use? This might be an idea for me.
Thanks! |
If they do not put the lids back on them, mostly, then they don't get to use them. Not in a mean way, but it's that simple. Give them crayons for a week or two, no markers, and then offer them to them again. Repeat if neccessary. They will get it in time. :)
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BTW....I have different types of markers, crayons, colored pencils, pens and lead pencils, and lots of paper out and accessible to the children at all times and pretty much at all times there are 1-6 children drawing/writing. When I have an issue with lids on markers - I only limit marker access to the child(ren) who are not putting the caps back on. The rest of the kids still use them.
They do typically learn quickly to replace the caps. |
Originally Posted by MissAnn: I've been thinking about getting canvas tote bags for each child with their name on it so they can store their markers and doodle pads, and maybe adding their own box of crayons, pencils, etc, but I haven't gone forward with it yet. They have access to crayons, pencils, paper, and community markers at all times, but they like their own. |
I use pencil boxes and each child had one of their own that contains:
1set markers 1box crayons 1 glue stick 1 safety scissors 1 sheet of stickers replaced after used 2 stamps 1 ink pad 3 paint brushes 1 water color set Btw pencil boxes are on sale at walmart oght now for $.50 I just got 3 more If the kids don't take care of their stuff then they don't have anything to use. |
Originally Posted by MissAnn: I've heard an easy way to make one...just get a big ball of modeling clay and stick the markers in it and let it dry. |
Originally Posted by Crystal: Like Crystal said, repeat the cycle of testing readiness. When they can master putting lids back on then they are ready to use markers and can have access to them. |
You know I love you and Nan bit I have to disagree
I think that early exposure at the recommended age of the product is necessary. If we don't expose them how are they to learn? I think that kids are a lot more capable of doing amazing things if we just gave them the chance to try. Just like adults most of the tine they won't perfect things or grasp the concept the first time they are shown. I have 2 year olds that put caps on markers and 4 year olds that don't. I don't take the markers away, I let them keep the markers in their box and they soon learn that if the caps are left off the markers don't work. After a few weeks, I will throw out the bad markers of those that ruin them and only give them one marker in their box to learn to care for. If it's success then I will add another marker to the box. The child will usually learn this way thAt they must care for the things they have. If we take it away how will they learn to ever care for them or anything else? To me it's a sense of teaching appreciation and responsibility. |
When I worked at a center (many years ago) we put plaster of paris in a 8 x 8 cake pan & stuck the marker lids in to create our own marker holder. But nowadays I just do as Crystal and Blackcat suggested & ask the kids who are capable to be responsible & put the lids back on when they are finished.
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Sorry I'm on my phone and can't edit my changes from the previous post. Lol
I hope it made sense.... |
I wrapped different colored electrical tape around the end of each of the pens in the pkg for each child and labeled a plastic pencil box with a small 2 inch piece of this same colored tape with that child's name on it. They were able to identify their pens with the color of tape and it was great for making sure who's pens were whos. I only have 4 kids using markers, so I had one with red, one with white, one with yellow and one with blue.
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I'm the keeper of the markers and they have to pass me a marker with a lid to chose a new one. :) Everyone has free access to the crayons, pencils and colored pencils but markers not so much. :)
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Originally Posted by daycare: |
Originally Posted by daycare: |
Originally Posted by daycare: I help foster and support responsibility. I am not the sole teacher of those skills. The parents need to play a role in the child's learning as well. I do what works for a group of kids. Same goes for scissors. If I am directly involved, the kids who haven't mastered them can use them but if I am not directly involved with the activitiy, they do not get scissors. There are plenty of other activities that will help children master putting marker lids on instead of actually using markers. And FWIW, markers are recommended for age 3 and up so I don't feel one bit bad about not exposing a 2 year old to them. Daycare~ You have also stated you give each child their own set of markers so if they don't put a cap back on, it is their own marker that is ruined. My markers are communal and it isn't fair if one little guy ruins the blue one for everyone else...kwim? |
Originally Posted by Blackcat31: Logical consequences. I've found that when the first start doing markers they love doing the recap because they like the clicking of it. Once they have done that hundreds of times is when they start getting lazy about it. So it is more common to see the older ones not doing it. By that time they can really get that it leads to the end of the session for them and keep track of it themselves. I start them at three with them. Any earlier and we have to be too involved in monitoring the caps for mouthing and them coloring the table, their clothes, and themselves. I have them do it when they are old enough to understand that we want paper marking only. We have free unlimited markers here thanks to one of my moms who supplies us every year so we never run out. We don't leave them out in play so when they do markers they are excited to do it and we rarely have problems. I have one two year old who is running pretty far ahead of the curve so we have sent home a couple of packages of them for home use and her Mom will get her going on them. Once she has some experience at home we will most likely let her onto the table with the biggins. I NEVER worry about whether or not a child can master stuff like that here. They have at least five waking hours a day with their parents and the most number of kids in the family is two so they have plenty of time in a two adult to two kid ratio or two adults to one kid ratio to get everything they need for their age group. Whatever happens here is just gravy. :D |
Originally Posted by nannyde: "I don't deal with the cap and return thing with markers much because we have an adult sitting there when they are using them" I do not have an additional adult to be the marker police. "I start them at three with them. Any earlier and we have to be too involved in monitoring the caps for mouthing and them coloring the table, their clothes, and themselves. I have them do it when they are old enough to understand that we want paper marking only." Another reason I do not make markers available to kids under three without DIRECT supervision. "..and her Mom will get her going on them" Yes, parents can initial plenty of skills with their child. I prefer the role of supporter in many areas. "They have at least five waking hours a day with their parents" Which is a good deal of time to be able to experience the marker learning under the direct supervision of a parent. When the skill is mastered, then they get free access while at my house. |
Originally Posted by Blackcat31: I wouldn't consider having them out all the time. I like to have stuff like that be special so when we do it they are all over it. We have SO much stuff here that we can have something different all the time. I like that system better. The stuff they have access to every day are things that require no adult other than general play supervision. |
Originally Posted by daycare: |
Originally Posted by Crystal: I'm not talking about access where your hand is over their hand while they are touching it. I'm talking about access where they freely go to paper, paint, play doh, glue, etc... WITHOUT having an adult holding onto whatever they have. Are you talking about access where the adult is not physically touching the materials alongside / with the child on a second to second basis of use? |
Originally Posted by Crystal: I loved the idea of the individual sets of markers. I wanted to buy pencil boxes at Walmart, but I could not find any. Instead I bought a pencil holder that you put in a binder. Can't remember what they are called right now! They are clear and I will put their names on each one. Natural consequences will occur if they do not take care of their property. So....we'll see how it goes! |
Originally Posted by MissAnn: |
Nanny:
I have ALL materials out....markers, crayons,pencils, paper, play dough, paint, collage supplies, glue, scissors, blocks and accessories, science materials, math and manipulative materials, dramatic play materials EVERYTHING within reach of my walkers. We are actively involved throughout the day in facilitating their work/play and I am completely comfortable allowing my children opportunities to use materials as soon as they are interested. On average, my children are between 12 and 18 months when they begin freely using the art materials. I have NEVER helped a child hold a crayon/marker/pencil/paintbrush. They learn grasping skills at a very young age and if they can hold it, move it to make a mark with it, however light that mark may be, then I allow them to do it. When they first begin using the materials we stay nearby, observing, facilitating and redirecting as needed to teach them the appropriate ways to use the materials....for instance, if they attempt to walk around with markers, we will direct them to sit down with the marker, or put it away....same with scissors, etc. They learn VERY early how to use the materials and as I said before there is ALWAYS at least one but usually a few kids at the writing/art table/area. It is Emergent Curriculum. It is teaching children based on their interests and their emerging skills. It is acknowledging and honoring that children are quite capable of many things if they are given the opportunity to test out and build their skills. |
Originally Posted by nannyde: |
Nanny:
I just wanted to post separately on another part of this. I realize that there are safety issues with allowing children to have access to these materials. Because I realize those issues, I am HYPER aware of them and am very diligant about having someone directly supervising while children are playing and using materials. Also, materials are at differing levels, so the littlest children cannot reach the scissors/collage/beads/etc. without an older child or adult getting them down and facilitating/supervising the activity. Those materials are within reach of the preschool aged children and they use them when they choose. At those times, the toddlers might join, and if so an adult supervises. FTR, I have done it this way for 14 years, and I have never had an issue with it. And, my children are typically writing, without ever using a tracer sheet, by age 3, and writing well by age 4. |
Originally Posted by Crystal: My supplies are kept out of reach of the younger ones and when it is time for them to participate in the activity, they are seated in their booster seats with paint shirts on & cannot get down until they are cleaned up. I think their favorite part is washing up in the big bowl of soapy bubbles! Even the 3 & 4 yo love this part too! I closely monitor the markers of these younger ones as well. They learn quickly watching the older ones and get the idea of drawing with them and the same holds true for play dough. As soon as they show an interest, they are allowed the opportunity to participate, but never left unattended. It's an important aspect in the learning process. |
Mom2Many - YES! I LOVE observing the children as they paint and explore. I like to play classical music as they paint....watch how they "flow" with the music as they paint.
I do "community style" with the supplies, also. This way they learn to share and to negotiate to get what they want/need. Great life skills! |
Originally Posted by Crystal: |
Originally Posted by Crystal: I'm NOT talking about two/three/four year olds. I'm asking specifically about then ten month to fourteen month new walkers. With your ages the materials are within their age ranges. I'm interested in what materials you can have out for ten to fourteen month olds (new walkers). |
Originally Posted by Crystal: I don't know if that has anything to do with having materials out all the time though because we sure don't. |
I have crayons, markers, scissors, colored pencils, paper, hole punchers,glue out all the time for the children. Even for the children under two, but the youngest I have ever had was 18 months.
I did have one little one that came (4 years old) who became so wide eyed and excited! When mom asked why, the child replied " Do we get to use markers, crayons, etc."? I told him why yes! His last provider never let them have this kind of stuff was my understanding so he was so excited to see that he was able to do that here. It totally shocked me that this child had never been exposed to this kind of stuff at childcare! |
Solution for the marker stand
MissAnn
There is a great new product that i found on Drugstore.com of all places that may take care of your marker problem. It's call Snap Cap Markers. There are no separate caps and the markers are the perfect size for the kids. It has a base with built in caps and the markers are easy for the kids to see the colors. I looked them up and their site is www.snapcapmarkers.com I hope that helps!! |
Originally Posted by Crystal: |
Originally Posted by nannyde: |
Originally Posted by countrymom: |
Thank you for all the suggestions. I bought pencil bags and markers for each child. We had a lesson on putting the cap on the top of the pen while using it and practiced different ways to snap the lid back on. I showed them how to only have one pen out at a time. I told them they are their pens to take care of and if they dry out or get lost, they won't have as many colors. They have been doing a wonderful job. My age group is 3-5 year olds...and this was a wonderful suggestion....thank you!
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No scissors, markers or paint out here. Those are materials that I have to get out. Pencils, crayons, chalk, paper are all in bins that can be accessed all the time. I have a mixed age 5 weeks to 12 years. Never had marks on walls, but I am always right there at art time.
I have seen wooden blocks that have holes drilled in and the marker top glued in it. It still is hard to "click" the top on and I have no problem checking markers as we put them away, as long as they try. I do art with all ages. From the time they can sit in booster ( 6-8 months) they are included. We paint, draw, everything but scissors with younger toddlers. I find it easier to do this and teach them not to put in mouth, not to write on wall, what to do with paint brush, etc. They will learn from others, and by time they can get free art out themselves they know how to use all items. |
Originally Posted by VTMom: |
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