Lately, there has been a lot of talks about gluten-free products; the local grocery store even has an entire aisle dedicated to gluten free foods. So, what is gluten and the associated gluten intolerance called Celiac disease? Gluten is found in many products besides food and with scores of children being diagnosed with Celiac disease, new gluten-free art materials are being created so young students can safely explore art in school and at home.
What is Gluten?
Gluten is a special type of protein that is commonly found in rye, wheat and barley. Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have Celiac disease cannot tolerate ingesting or handling products that contain gluten. Celiac disease is one of the most common and under diagnosed chronic health disorders in America.
According to a 2003 article in the Archives of Internal Medicine titled "Prevalence of Celiac Disease in At-Risk and Not-at-Risk Groups in the United States", at least 3 million Americans, or about 1 in 133 people have Celiac disease, but only 1 in 4,700 is ever diagnosed. Gluten-free diets and products are essential for people with Celiac disease.
What Kinds of Products Contain Gluten?
Gluten is found mainly in foods that have rye, wheat or barley derivatives, but may also be found in everyday products such as art supplies, medicines, sunscreen, lotions, soaps, Band-Aids, vitamins, and lip balms. Many foods contain gluten made from these grains: all purpose flour, semolina pasta, breakfast cereal, chips and crackers, candy, canned soups and processed meats like hot dogs or cold cuts. Plain meat, fish, rice, fruits and vegetables do not contain gluten.
For young children who have Celiac disease, art supply items that are touched and handled such as play dough, finger paints, stickers and glue need to be gluten free as well. Schools are catching up to the needs of these children by providing gluten-free art materials to their students.
Gluten-Free Play Dough
For very young children, working with play dough is an important activity that develops hand eye coordination, strengthens hand muscles and encourages creativity, language development and imagination. Nearly all commercially available play dough contains gluten. Small upstart companies are beginning to fill the need of providing all natural, organic and gluten-free play dough for home and school environments.
Bluedominoes, the winner of the 2009 Dr. Toy Award offers five different colors of gluten-free play dough in small and large quantities. Mama K’s Aromatic Play Clay comes in 7 different gluten-free colors and scents.
The following are gluten-free activity play doughs for children:
- Bluedominoes Activity Dough
- Mama K’s Aromatic Play Clay
- Eco Kids Eco-Dough
- Crayola Model Magic
- Silly Putty
- Prang Dough
The following activity play dough products are not gluten-free:
- Hasbro Play Doh
- Crayola Modeling Dough
- Crayola Modeling Clay
- Rose Art Dough and Clay
- Ross and Amoco Super Dough
Gluten-Free Art Paints
It’s a fact that a young child working with paint will inevitably get some on his skin. The best way to avoid a gluten-related reaction is to use gluten-free art paints with children. Finger paints often contain wheat based products as a thickener and should be avoided in a gluten-free environment. Bluedominoes and Eco Art are now making all natural and organic gluten-free art paints for children.
The following art paint products for children are gluten-free:
- Bluedominoes finger paint
- Eco Art Glob paint
- Crayola finger paint
- Palmer paint products
- Sargent Art paint
- Prang finger paint
The following art paints for children are not gluten-free:
- Elmer’s finger paint
- Ross finger paint
Gluten-Free Art Adhesives
All children love stickers and glue and tape. A work of art by a two- or three-year-old often utilizes all three of these materials. The simple fact of life is that any sticky art product will get stuck to skin. To avoid a gluten intolerance reaction, gluten-free glue, tape and stickers should be provided for all children.
The following art adhesive products for children are gluten-free:
- Crayola glitter glue
- Elmer’s glue
- Ross glue
- Rose Art stickers
- Sandylion stickers
- Mrs. Grossman stickers
- 3M scotch tape, post it notes
Traditional wheat art paste is not gluten-free
As more and more children continue to suffer from both diagnosed and undiagnosed gluten intolerance and Celiac disease, gluten-free all natural art supplies will soon become the norm in homes and classrooms. Gluten-free play dough, finger paints, glues and stickers allow even the youngest child to explore art safely.
Young children use all of their senses when experiencing and creating art and all natural gluten-free art materials allow children to explore art in a sensorial way, touching, smelling and yes, sometimes even tasting with safe and organic materials.
Jocelyn Scotty - A freelance educational writer, certified Montessori teacher, former teacher educator and school administrator, Jocelyn is also the ...
