Have you seen all the model trucks that are available for children? You know, the ones that are made of wood and have very little moving parts? These models can be a perfect project for those days when you need something to help keep the little ones busy and want to make it a family project. If this sounds like just the thing that you are looking for then you will need to pick up a few items before you get started. It is always better to have everything on hand than to have to leave in the middle of the project and come back to it later.

Some of the items that you will need include a drop cloth for covering the surface that you will be using for assembling the model trucks. You can also use an old sheet or a garbage bag. Next you will need to gather some non toxic paints that clean easily with water. There are water based acrylics that will work just perfectly for your project without ruining anything that it may get on. Another tool that you will need is some paint brushes that have big handles. These will be quite easier for your children to hold.

As another project that you can do ahead of time you can pick up some plain aprons and paint everyone's names on them. The children will have a personalized apron and you will not have to worry about having to clean the paint out of their clothes. You can also pick up aprons at many different retail stores that already have pictures printed on them. This will be totally up to you as to which ones you choose to use.

The best way to go about the project is to buy a separate model truck for each child. This way you will not have to worry about fielding arguments as to who gets to play with the truck next, let alone who gets to paint which parts. Once you have all your parts opened up, you can divide up the truck parts by the number of children that you will have working on the project. Each child will feel as if they are in charge of their own project. You might also want to have each child work on painting the same parts at the same time so that they all feel as if one is not doing more than another.

You will also be surprised at how much easier it is to paint one color at a time. You will have much less of a mess to deal with when the project is finished. Start by letting the children paint the body of the truck first. This will take the most time to dry so by starting with it you will have time for it to dry while you are finishing the rest. If you get all the parts painted and they are still drying then you might consider having some craft paper on hand so that they can paint as they are waiting for their truck parts to dry. After they have finished drying you can then begin assembly. One way to get the children involved in the process is to ask them for each part in particular.

As you assemble the truck you should make sure to follow the directions that came with them closely. By doing so you will make sure that the trucks turn out properly. By doing activities like this you can help keep your children involved and have fun with them at the same time.