Because children do not develop the mental or physical abilities needed to achieve these goals until the later elementary years, craft activities are usually most successful with older children. While art and craft activities may differ in some ways, they do have one thing in common - both may use materials that could pose a serious health threat to children and adults. Some types of paint, glue, model materials, and solvents may contain substances that have been shown to produce cancer, organ and tissue damage, mental retardation, and other serious health problems. Anyone who offers art activities to young children needs to be aware of these potential hazards. Many art materials have been designed and tested for adults.
Children tend to be active and curious.
They have less well-developed fine motor skills and often do not understand the potential danger presented by an activity. As a result, children may spill supplies, or get them on themselves or others. This can increase the risk of harmful exposure. Children may also put their fingers in their mouths, or suck their thumbs after having their hands in the materials. While this is more common in children under five, nail-biting continues well into the school years.