Some parents are skilled crafters. Others are doing well to cut paper in a reasonably straight line. No matter which group you fall into, crafting with your kids can be beneficial for all involved.
Benefits Of crafting With Your Kids
Few things bring families together like crafting. Here are some of the good things that come out of crafting with your kids.
Crafting builds creativity. Developing minds need a creative outlet, and crafting provides the opportunity for kids to use their imaginations. It helps them learn to solve problems, and it could lay the groundwork for a lifetime of interest in art. For parents, getting creative can help reduce stress and promote using the brain in ways that we don’t have a reason to use every day.
Crafting teaches kids to follow directions. This seems like a very basic skill, but we all know adults who can’t seem to follow directions. When kids craft, they learn the consequences of not following directions when their projects do not turn out as expected. This instills in them the importance of doing things the right way the first time.
For young children, crafting is fabulous for learning basic skills. Almost any type of craft promotes hand-eye coordination. Kids can also learn to use scissors, measure, and do lots of other things they will eventually do in everyday life.
Parents and children have a chance to talk. In our busy lives, it seems that we know less about our kids than previous generations of parents did. Passive activities such as watching TV do little to encourage conversation. But when you’re crafting together, talking comes naturally. You can seize the opportunity to discuss such things as your child’s interests, his/her concerns, and how s/he’s doing in school.
Crafting is a great way to wind down. It’s wonderful for kids to be active, but there are times when they need to calm down. If you find your child getting agitated or exhibiting an overabundance of energy near bedtime, try bringing out the craft supplies. Crafting engages kids’ minds, giving them something to focus on and a good reason to sit for a while.
Creating things is a confidence booster. Parents who craft regularly know the feeling of accomplishment when a project is complete, Multiply this feeling by ten, and you have a pretty good idea of how your child feels when s/he makes something. FOr kids, crafting can help build positive self-esteem.
Working on a project together is a great way to teach your kids teamwork. This will help them develop the skills needed to resolve disputes peacefully and effectively. It will also help them discover their strengths and teach them that doing their best will make the entire project turn out better.
Crafting creates treasured family memories. The finished product will serve as a reminder of the fun you had making it together.
Crafting as a family provides opportunities for us to interact with our children. It is also a valuable learning experience for them. Don’t worry if you aren’t the world’s greatest crafter. Simply being willing to try anyway is a lesson to your kids in itself.
I was never good at arts and crafts as a kid, but nowadays there are kits that are the Crafts for Dummies variety – and we loved them as a family. Now my kids are older, but they still like the occasional scrapbooking opportunity.
Creativity has never been my strong suit and I never tried to develop the skill. I think when my grandson is a little older, he and I will spend some quality time doing some simple crafting. Thanks for the nudge Lynn.
Lynn, you have such a clear and organized mind! Thanks for another wonderful post. I never before thought of crafting teaching kids to follow directions, but of course, it does, and that’s great! Reading your post makes me think of crafting projects I’ve had in the back of my mind and want to pull out and actually do.