• Why don't you invent a simple reward system? Create a chart with colourful paper and put it up in your classroom. 5 good deeds earn a reward!
• Remember that positive reinforcement outweighs negative correction. 'Catch' your students doing good deeds.

Motor Skills

• Fine motor skills are a really important part of learning to become independent - dressing, feeding, cutting and later writing. Manipulative materials will help develop fine motor skills.
• Lacing plates are an ideal fine motor skill development tool for early learners, and they're fun too!
• Manipulating and squishing Dough WorX or plasticine is another great way to help develop fine motor skills. Combine with rolling pin, cutters and mallets to extend skill development.

Painting

• Paint stampers are great for fine motor skills. Create a 'palette' on the paper by applying a thick layer of paint, to an area, whilst it is still wet stamp in it to collect paint and apply to other areas.
• Using paint pots? Only keep about an inch of paint in there or the brush will get covered in paint as younger students push the bristles right down into the pot.
• Paint directly onto the paint stampers with a brush to avoid having to use a palette and 'waste' paint.
• Want to avoid students mixing paint colours together?  Have one brush for each paint pot so switching colours is easy.

Arts and Craft

• Stuck for craft ideas? Invest in a bulk buy craft kit, set up a safe area and let students just go for it.  Give them empty boxes & egg cartons and watch them invent their own creatures and games.
• Combine fun and science! Collect fingerprints from your students & compare the swirls and twirls. Turn these prints into funny little drawings! For example, you can make quirky creatures. Use marker pens to add limbs, antennae, tails ears etc. Glue on moving eyes and foam shapes for extra craziness.

• Table space at a premium in your classroom? No need to clutter with art products, invest in a handy chair bag and make clean up quick and easy, plus access is easy for students when the creative urge strikes.
• Kids love glitter, but it can be quite messy! Always use a large piece of newspaper underneath to collect spills and scattered bits and pour back into the jar at the end.
• Stems are another brilliant manipulative play item. Students think of all kinds of wacky things to make with them. For extra BIG fun we highly recommend Brain Noodles - great for big sculptures and all round fuzzy fun stuff.

Cleaning Dough and Clay

• Do NOT use HOT water to remove dough from clothes or carpets: it makes the dough more sticky! For best results, remove excess and allow to dry. Then loosen the remaining compound with a stiff brush and vacuum clean. If necessary, wash with gentle soap, cold water and a brush.
• Plasticine is oil based so if you get it on the carpet or clothes you need to use a methylated spirit or dry cleaning solvent. Remove excess and treat the area carefully working from the outside in to minimise spread. Then sponge with water and blot dry.