Daniel Marsula, Post-Gazette Click photo for larger image.

Q: I have 3-year-old twins, a boy and a girl. I want to do crafts with them but I don't know where to start. Can you give me some advice? (I don't have a lot of money.)

A: Good for you for wanting to do creative, fun things with your kids! Here are some ideas to start you off.

The library has great books full of ideas for children's crafts. Many of them use inexpensive or no-cost items, some of which you'll probably already have in your home.

If you want to buy a complete but inexpensive crafts kit, you can check local stores -- or order from a company like Oriental Trading, which offers a variety of such kits.

		Parenting 4 Kids Nationally accredited, 4 Kids Early Learning Network serves children and families throughout the Mon Valley. Through this column, 4 Kids staff members answer reader questions about raising children in the critical early years. E-mail questions for consideration to: questions@4kidsearlyed.org, or mail to: 4 Kids Questions, 445 Fourth St., Braddock, PA 15104.

Never underestimate the power of a big brown cardboard box -- the packaging for appliances or other large items. Give it to your children along with some washable markers, and watch what their imaginations can create. (If it's a house, they'll need your help cutting out doors and windows.)

Create an art box you can bring out any time you and the twins are feeling creative.

You might include materials such as stickers, crayons, markers, pipe cleaners, glue sticks, foam shapes, chalk, paint, and many different types of paper. Good news: all these things are usually available at the dollar store.

Recyclable materials such as plastic or cardboard milk jugs and plastic coffee cans can be turned into all sorts of things.

Mother Nature is clearly a crafts person.

Take the kids on a nature walk and collect leaves, bark, flowers, rocks, and anything else that looks interesting.

Once you get home, make all sorts of collages and impressions with the supplies in the art box.

Once you start being "crafty," we bet you and your kids will come up with many more ideas for fun projects.