Crafting with children – ideas and tips

Crafting with children is a positive pastime in many respects. It trains motor skills and is fun. This is how beautiful keepsakes or gifts are created. Especially in the dark, cold season, crafting is an ideal pastime. With scissors, glue, cardboard, and colored pencils, many beautiful things can be made, but one should always keep in mind that the respective craft task is also manageable for the child.

Age and craft idea

Not every craft idea is suitable for the respective age and skill of the individual child. Therefore, the craft tasks should be manageable and thought through beforehand so that the sense of achievement is visible to the child. Because as long as the child cannot manage the task, they will certainly lose interest in crafting over time.

From experience, most people know for themselves what they can expect from their child. Some children have the dexterity to do silk painting at the age of 4, while other children, due to their motor skills, only show interest in craft activities such as working with wood or cardboard at the age of 11. Certainly, crafting itself is an important component for children to spend time with their parents. Therefore, it should generally be ensured that the fun factor and the templates are as simple and child-friendly as possible.

Preparation

First, the various materials should be laid out and be available in sufficient quantity. Any tools or aids should also ideally be waiting for the little fingers. Crafting with impatient children eventually stops being fun for adults too. Therefore, it is recommended to perhaps try out the craft idea yourself beforehand.

Materials

Also, pay special attention to ensuring that the materials do not contain any toxic substances, such as solvents in pens or glues. Alternatively, glue mixtures made of flour and water can be used for these purposes, with which children can craft completely safely.

In addition to wood or cardboard, construction paper, foam rubber, or pipe cleaners are also suitable for easy craft work. For the topic of crafting with natural materials, a walk in the forest or on the beach is suitable for finding free items like twigs, acorns and chestnuts, sand, or shells as ideal craft utensils. From everyday life, newspaper, yogurt cups, popsicle sticks, or cardboard rolls are also wonderful. There are hardly any limits to the craft templates. But what about the craft themes and what is suitable for every child's age?

Especially small children are usually very satisfied just spreading glue and colorful scraps on a sheet of paper generously. Craft utensils that sparkle or shine, such as buttons, beads, or glitter fabrics, are also very popular. It is important here, however, to check the materials for harmful substances such as heavy metals and to ensure that the little ones cannot swallow or inhale these small parts.

Inspiration

Classics among craft themes are always the seasons: snowmen in winter, flowers and bunnies in spring, or beach pictures in summer, as well as kite and tree pictures in autumn are, for example, excellent themes. Recently, Easter pictures or Halloween decorations have also found great interest among the little ones. Animal or fairy tale figures as well as fantasy creatures are also popular. The main thing is still that it is nice and colorful and sometimes also imaginative.

So whatever you want to craft with the child, the possibilities are definitely there. However, it is also important that the activity time is not extended too much. Children tend to lose interest in various activities after a certain time. Older children, however, are certainly able to concentrate on one thing for longer than two- to three-year-old children. If you notice that the child is becoming impatient or fidgety, stop the craft session and perhaps continue it the next day. Also, never forget to praise the child for their work from time to time. All children are very receptive to praise and encouragement. Likewise, it fills the child with pride when they notice that the craft work is hanging in the apartment or is being admired.

Tips & Tricks

Many children love stories while crafting. Why not combine the craft idea with a suitable story – this usually boosts the imagination of the little ones immensely. Also, make sure that you give the children easy instructions for the craft work, which are understandable but also leave the children free to do as they please. This way, their own imagination can be used and the crafting fun can take place without pressure. However, always stay near the child during the crafting time in case they have questions or get into difficulties. But do not correct or patronize the child if something does not turn out right or perfect – this could only hinder the child in their creation.

Is the child not yet particularly proficient with scissors? No problem: practice slowly and understandingly with them. Show them how to hold the scissors correctly and carefully take the child's hand to practice the cutting steps. A child can also certainly use help when painting with a watercolor set if they want it.

Here are some great craft utensilsat amazon.at.

Read also: Put together your own craft cart for craft supplies

Photo by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at