You know what it’s like. You’re putting the finishing touches to dinner, or just settling down to watch Oprah, and your preschooler just won’t settle down. There’s a way to get around this. Set up a simple Crafts Kit that contains all the materials he needs to keep himself pre occupied for a couple of hours.

It doesn’t take long to put together, it’s cheap and best of all you don’t have to spend 30 minutes collecting crayons, tearing off sheets of drawing paper and getting him all set up at a worktable. With a kit that’s stocked and ready to go, all you have to do is haul it out when your angel needs to get his hands dirty!

A Crafts Kit doesn’t have to be elaborate. A simple cardboard box will do just fine. Or you could use one of those large plastic containers that are available at home improvement stores. Really in a pinch? Just grab your laundry hamper, and begin throwing stuff in there!

Here’s what your Crafts Kit should include:

• Crayons
• White chart paper
• Colored chart paper (yellow, pink, pastel blue and green)
• Black paper
• White paper
• Gray paper
• Pencils
• Poster board
• Pair of scissors
• A bowl for mixing
• Non toxic washable markers
• Glue
• Chalk in various colors
• Modeling clay
• Non toxic water colors
• Paintbrush (medium and small sized)
• Stick for mixing
• Hand wipes
• Large plastic sheet to cover the work area
• A smock or loose comfortable shirt (for your little artist)
• Poster paints
• A box of glitter
• Glitter paint
• Cellophane
• A hole punch machine
• Small sponge
• A roll of thread

Keep your Crafts Kit somewhere high up on a shelf or locked in a closet, so he can’t get to work on his own when you’re not around. When in need, just drag the box out, settle him down on the floor or work table and enjoy an hour or so of peace and quiet!

Here are some figures that are really scary. According to statistics from Para Publishing, one third of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives, and over 80 percent of US families did not buy or read a book last year.

It’s not difficult to understand why reading habits have decreased they way they have. With competition from television, and (ahem) the Internet, books have a hard time making a place for themselves in our imagination.

While figures like these are daunting, it’s not impossible for you to help your preschooler develop a love for reading. Take it slow, keep at it, and you should be able to gift your child the reading bug.

Catch Them Young
Start when your child is just a few months old – old enough to recognize your voice and look at pictures. When they’re toddlers and old enough to recognize alphabets, ask them to point out letters that they recognize as you read.

Make Reading Part of their Daily Routine
Keep aside an hour everyday to read with your child. It could be a simple story book, or a collection of rhymes. No television, no distractions.

Make Friends with Books
Gift books for birthdays, and for no reason at all. Take him along to the book store so he can pick out a book of his choice. Encourage relatives to gift him books too. You don’t have to completely stop with the toys. Just make sure you add at least one book to the mix.

Make Reading a Fun Activity
Have fun while reading to your child! Use different voices for different characters, and help him paint a mental picture of every scene. Don’t be dull and boring. The point is to make him think, “Wow! This is fun!”

Use Word Games and Often
Board games like Scrabble are not only a terrific way to spend time with your child, they also build reading skills. Plus, the two in one effect is unbeatable. You’ll be helping him read, while also bonding with him at the same time!