When it comes to kids, it’s so important to do what you can to help boost their creativity. They have a wild imagination, and if their imagination is being fueled, this can turn into some wonderful changes, such as becoming more innovative and eventually thinking outside the box. But with that said, what are the best ways to get a kid creative? Well, when they’re young, it’s best to dive into arts and humanities rather than something like writing.Â
For every kid, they’re going to enjoy a different form of art. Some may love to finger paint, while others might prefer learning basic macrame bracelet tips. So, regardless of what your kid might like, it’s best to get them into it. Here is everything you need to know about getting your children into crafts!
Why is it So Important for Kids to Do Crafts?
Crafting can be a great outlet for kids to express themselves without having to talk about it especially if they have a hard time verbalizing their emotions. Creating a project with other children encourages teamwork and collaboration. It also teaches them how to respect other people’s ideas and opinions. This is a skill they will need in school and other parts of life. As they work on their projects, kids will naturally improve their hand-eye coordination.
Cutting in a straight line, drawing dots and lines, and coloring within the lines are all good ways to exercise their dexterity. It can help them perform better in sports and other activities. Plus, there are other things that you should keep in mind, like how some crafts require the ability to read and follow instructions. So, whether they are reading written directions or listening to a parent or teacher give them step-by-step instructions, it helps develop their literacy skills. Overall, crafts are a powerful learning tool and a gateway into something bigger.
What are the Benefits of Kids Doing Crafts?
Well, it’s not just kids; it’s honestly anyone. It’s a nice outlet for thoughts, and it’s a way to get the brain active, but that’s not all! Here are a couple of major benefits of kids doing crafts!
Crafts Allow Their Imagination to Run Freely
Whether it’s the home decor for their room or just basic activity to keep them busy, having them do crafts at home will teach them about freedom. It’s usually not something that’s taught in schools (usually, a kid gets punished for it), so allow them to have their imagination run wild at home. When kids engage in creative activities, they need to be able to color outside the lines, dump the modeling clay, mix their own colors and spill the glitter.Â
Kids also need to be able to make up stories and create fantastic creatures. That is why it’s important to have a few different craft projects available. Kids who enjoy following tutorials can follow them to the letter and achieve a great end product, while others can take their creations in a completely different direction. This is perfectly fine! It’s also an opportunity to teach children about the creative process.
It Helps Them Create Their Own Choices
This basically piggybacks off of letting their imagination run freely. But one thing you should definitely keep in mind is that most crafts don’t have barriers. In fact, no barriers can lead to new things. Think about it; there’s nothing bad with coloring outside the lines. Sometimes, going against the norm is how to discover the best art. Take it from some of the best painters in the world, like Van Gogh.Â
What to Do to Get Your Kid into Crafts
For the most part, it’s not too challenging to get kids into crafts. Ideally, it’s better to start when they’re at a younger age so it becomes more normalized over time. But here’s what you can do as a parent to get your kids into it.
You Should Never Force it
While this is a dead giveaway, it’s a mistake that parents still seem to make. When it comes to any activity, if you’re forcing your child, it’s going to get to the point where they’re going to hate it. Instead, try to find an activity that piques their interest. Maybe this means trying a different type of art activity, like drawing on 3D objects or coloring with markers that aren’t just crayons.
Make it a Family Activity
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is to get the whole family together to indulge in crafts. Children can learn to work together and communicate as they do crafts. This helps develop social skills and also teaches them that they can do something on their own without adult help. It’s ok to do the same craft over and over again, but make sure to mix things up with new materials every so often. This will encourage creativity and imagination. Plus, family time together is vital for strengthening bonds.
Allow Them to Take Creative Lead
It is important to let your children be creative when they are doing crafts. If they follow a tutorial to a “T,” then that’s fine, but also let them use it as inspiration and then make up their own way of doing things. This will help them learn how to solve problems on their own, and it will teach them that it is okay if their work doesn’t turn out perfectly.
For example, you may want to encourage your kids to create a collage using old magazines and scraps of paper. But let them decide what to glue on the collage and how to make it look. This is a good opportunity to talk about how artists and designers are able to use their imagination to create something unique.
You Need to Make Sure It’s Fun
Having fun is key when it comes to crafts. Kids are more receptive to activities when they know that it is going to be fun and interesting. This also means that the craft must be cool and relevant to their interests. If they’re getting bored with a specific craft, just take it as “Okay, this one specifically isn’t working for them”. So, just take it as that one craft. Not all crafts are fun, and it’s fine. Let them decide what is and what isn’t fun.
