I suppose this is 2-3 more than 0-2, but how do you keep the house relatively clean when unfettered creativity is such a messy sport? Do you designate a special area? Cover with special somethings? Outside is my favorite, weather permitting, and assuming a yard.

Branwyn's sand painting really got me thinking about this! but it is an ongoing issue, because we never live in our own house, and never have our own furniture. Always fancy dining room tables and cream-upholstered chairs I have to cover. :rolleyes: (Even adults can't keep those things clean.) When we're unlucky it's cream carpet too, like this apartment....

we cut down a dining table and put it in the playroom to encourage more arts and crafts stuff to be done there, but our kitchen table is the current favourite spot for most activities :) i bought a few cheap plastic tablecloths from the dollarstore that the kids throw over the table and floor when they want to work on something.

though i have to admit, when we got this house thru the foreclosure auctions and we decided on carpet etc, we made the decisions with the children in mind (like we got the cheapest carpet, got the most durable furniture that i could recover[crate furniture] etc) so that it could be well used and loved without me getting upset if something got on it. i had too many years of having "nice" things and getting upset when the oil pastels, glue, etc got on them :D i have no idea what i would do if we rented, i would probably designate an area and cover it with removable and washable covers.