It can be hard for practitioners to think of new resources and new ways of developing children's creativity and presenting new creative challenges, but the simplest of items can be used in fresh and exciting ways.
Bubble wrap to tin foil
Bubble wrap Tape a piece of bubble wrap securely to a tabletop. Provide the children with different colours of paint and brushes. Encourage the children to paint any colour or design on the bubble wrap and to take prints of their creation by pressing a piece of paper down on top of it and peeling it off again.
Zip-lock bags and files Fill the bags or files with some shaving foam and add some ready-mixed paint. Seal them and observe the texture and colour changes as the children rub the contents.
Tin foil Encourage the children to scrunch up a piece of tin foil loosely, dip it in a tray of paint and then print with it on a sheet of paper. Experiment by making different patterns depending on the way the tin foil has been scrunched.
Cling film Spread some cling film flat on a tabletop and place drops of different coloured ready-mixed paint on to half of the cling film. Fold the other half of the cling film over the top. Tape the ends and leave the children to create new textures and patterns.
Paint applicators
Household items Ask parents to donate household items that can be used as paint applicators, such as toothbrushes, scrubbing brushes, paint rollers, empty shoe polish applicators, empty roll-on deodorant bottles, sponges, paintbrushes, sieves, fish slices, whisks and potato mashers.
Unwanted salad spinners These can be used to create interesting artwork. Cut pieces of paper small enough to fit on the bottom. Let the children place different coloured paints on the paper, secure the lid and spin the top. Experiment by spinning at different speeds to create a range of designs.
Golf balls, tennis balls and marbles These make lovely patterns when dipped in paint, then rolled over a piece of paper placed in the bottom of a shallow tray (tip it to make the balls move).
Alternative creative areas
Under the table Tape a sheet of lining paper to the underside of a large table. Provide the children with markers, crayons and stickers to work with under the table. Allow them to lie on their backs under the table and draw and stick things to the paper. Stress that they are only allowed to do this when paper is attached to the table.
Adapt this arrangement by rolling some lining paper, textured wallpaper or frieze paper once around the table and taping the ends together to create a 'conveyor belt'. They will be fascinated by working on a 'moving picture'.
In a box Young children particularly enjoy working inside very large boxes (electrical appliance stores may give you some), so provide a range of mark-makers to use on the inside of the box.
Empty containers
Film canisters Each child can be given a canister filled with just enough PVAglue or glitter for the activity, so cutting down on waste.
Crisp tubes Simply cover them with paper and label them with pictures and words for storing paintbrushes, pencils and pens. The smaller ones are excellent for storing collage materials such as sequins, feathers, pasta and sawdust.
Cereal boxes Make these into box files for storing the children's art work by cutting the boxes diagonally from the top corner to about one quarter of the way down on the other side.
Art transporters
Tubes Give each child an empty kitchen roll tube with their name on it. Let them decorate their tube with stickers, paint and sticky shapes. At the end of the day, gently roll up the child's paperwork and insert into the tube. Ask parents to return the empty tube the next day.
Video containers Use empty video containers to send home fragile pieces of craftwork. Many video stores will happily donate their old containers. Cut pieces of paper to fit inside the sleeves. Once again, get the children to decorate these and label them.