ALEX Toys Official Blog

Dear Nurit,

I’m a mom of three who is always looking for ways to incorporate crafts into our daily routine. The problem is THE MESS. How do I encourage my children to express themselves while keeping my home semi-clean.

Children and messes go together like peanut butter and jelly. That said, there are ways that you can minimize the time you spend cleaning up after crafts.

1.      Have on hand a couple of clean aprons, or at least a few large old t-shirts, that are at least knee length for when your children paint.

2.      Use as a drop cloth. Instead of spot cleaning the carpet or mopping the kitchen floor you can just wipe it down.

3.      Get the little ones in on the cleaning action. When they experience what goes into cleaning up a mess, they’ll more likely to be careful about creating them.

4.      Keep your craft area organized and clean to start with. Regularly wipe down paint containers and keep brushes clean.

5.      As often as possible, create art outside. A patio, porch, or table set up in the backyard will keep the fun high and the mess low.

Good luck and remember to have a great time!