Children are very creative about their projects. You don’t have to come up with ideas of things they can do; they think of the ideas themselves.

When the weather is beautiful, and the sun is shining it is easy for your child to figure out something to do. Sometimes, however, they have a tough time especially when they feel more trapped in the house.

Just having things around that can encourage their creativity can be helpful. Look around your house and see what things might be worth gathering up and having for times like these.

Any time is a good time for creativity, but cold, rainy or snowy winter days are particularly good. Look around your house for things your child can use: rolling pins, foam rubber to make shapes for stamps, scotch tape, paint, pens, crayons, brushes, paper, sticks, rocks, playdough, glue, clay, scraps of material, buttons and something to use under the table to minimize the cleanup.

Make sure you find some paint pots which cut down the paint spills. They can be plastic pots you buy or ones you make from liquid container. You just need to keep them short with a small opening so when they are tipped over, they don’t spill quickly.

Try to have a different brush for each color or soon they are all one color. Thicker brushes re probably best for little children.

You can make paint by making a thin sauce of flour and water and adding color from powdered paint or food coloring. You can also just use regular paint.

Short, stubby crayons are best for little hands. Make sure your child uses the crayons on paper and not on “things” around the room.

Old cards, envelopes or packing material are all great to use for painting. At least it is one useful way to use these kinds of throw-away materials.

Remember when you were little, making stamps out of potatoes? Let your child have fun with a stamp you make for him.

Make a point of having materials like these available when your child is stuck at home with nothing to do because of the crummy weather or some other reason.

These are a lot better for them than watching television or asking you, “What is there to do?” Art projects encourage creativity, develop brain and eye-hand coordination, and keep them happy.

One way to encourage your little one on these kinds of projects is to display them when they are finished. When children see that you value their project this much, they are much more likely to want to do more.

Talk about their projects with your partner at dinner or on the phone with grandma. Letting your children hear you talking to others about things they have done encourages trying more things in the future.

Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and former executive director of Parenting Matters Foundation, which published newsletters for parents, caregivers and grandparents.