Because small children are still growing and developing, they have a high
sensitivity to harmful substances. Special attention should be given to
art supply choices for children twelve and under, to assure that the art
materials they are exposed to are non-toxic.
Most art supplies are labeled with the voluntary hazard rating, (Conforms to ASTM D-4236), which requires a warning on art materials that pose a chronic hazard. Conforming to this standard means that the product has been tested and that the labeling will say whether or not the product contains toxic substances. If the labeling says "rated non-toxic" or lacks any warnings, it is suitable for use by children. If the labeling contains the words "warning" or "caution", it is not suitable.When a company hasn't opted to use the rating system, it's safest to consider the material toxic, or contact the company for more information.
If you are interested in finding out more about the safety of all art & craft materials, read the book "Artist Beware" by Michael McCann.
Tip for Colored pencils
Many less expensive colored pencils have harder leads than
"artist" pencils such as Prismacolor. If you notice difficulty
in getting a nice application with a particular pencil brand, try sanding
using a coarser grit of sandpaper.
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Short list of kid safe art materials for PolyShrink-
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our printable table of kid safe art supplies, Click Here. |
Important Note-
Some of our kid's projects include the use of metallic and
paint markers. Any brand of marker that contains Xylene is NOT rated non-toxic.
Use of these types of pens should be limited to teens and adults and used
only with adequate ventilation.
There are several non-toxic brands of paint & metallic markers that work well with PolyShrink. Visit the link above to find out more.