children and art

I know what you mean, we had one of those.

I'd suggest to start with chalk (for the chalkboard!) and Crayola Washable Markers. They're good stuff. (The markers.) If you get one set of thick ones (8, I think) and one set of thin ones (16 or 24, I think), she'd be set for a whole lot of creativity.

My daughter always liked markers way more than crayons, so we've gone through a lot of them. Crayola Washables seem to be the best combination of color saturation (not too light/ wishy-washy), longevity (they last a long time), and washability! That last one is really important for that age -- they're gonna draw on things they're not supposed to draw on, period. These markers actually wash right out.

Southside,

If your niece is five, she would probably love finger-painting--without making clean-up too much trouble. Do, however, check for finger paints that are easily removable if they get onto walls, fabric, etc.

Adults usually enjoy finger-painting as much as kids. As a matter of fact, if I ran into another adult who didn't enjoy dipping fingers directly into bright pigment, I'd be wondering what the problem was. I'll bet you'd enjoy finger-painting with your niece. Do keep in mind that she may prefer you to be working on your own painting across the table from her while she works on her own. Kids generally like company while they paint, but they can be, understandably, very proprietary about their work.

I love finger-painting with my about-to-be-four-year-old granddaughter. We both go for the paint with great enthusiasm. There is a basic, visceral pleasure to finger-painting. No brush or other tool between you and the brilliant color. You want to use blue, your hands turn blue. You're in the thick of the process!