When adults choose to spend time with children it iscommonly through shared craft activites.
Moms, Dads, preschool and nursery school teachers, doting grandmas and aunts
give children crafts to do as a way of bonding with them which is often done in conjunction with the holidays
While children may have a hard time concentrating for long periods on more skill based activites, art is fun and therefor the perfect activity for them.
It’s when adults expectations of what young children can actually create in crafts collides with reality, that problems arise. They then feel that the only way children can create crafts is by copying an adults model. I call this “copycat crafts”.
If you are a real traditional sort and have no problem with creating robots out of your children then go right ahead and keep doing these kinds of crafts. Look online and in bookstores, they are all over the place
an there is no dearth of copycat crafts out there for you to choose from.
But before you do, let me give the explanation as to the detrimental effects of copycat crafts. You can also go download a free report that will help you with all kid crafts by explaining to you in detail the pros and cons of copycat crafts and educational crafts.
So one of the ways that tradtional crafts makes kids into robots is by stripping these projects of thinking and problem solving opportunities. Copycat crafts is detrimental to your children and I would like to explain why that is.
There is no point in art if its only to commemorate holidays. While children are having these enriching experiences they should also be getting educational benefit from it as well.
There are such vital skills that can be learned by doing proper crafts activities. Problem solving, initiative and the raising of self esteem are just some of the benefits.
Even though the children may be getting some skill in fine motor coordination even when doing copycat crafts, it may be the only benefit.
I have a great post for you that gives a great example of creativity in art by showing you how children can make a crafts activity of flowers using both methods.
How can we get adults to put educational crafts into many other times aside from holiday time.
So what’s the next step?
If you like the idea of adding more creativity to kids crafts you can check out Educational arts and crafts which will give you lots of crafts for kids to do that are truly educational.
If you want to try doing educational crafts on your own, however, and not copycat crafts then there 4 points to keep in mind when choosing a crafts for your children.
1. Does this activity allow for any problem solving?
2.Will making this project allow for any thinking skills?
3. Where’s the creativity here?
4.Will the children really feel that this project reflects their work?
If you keep these thoughts in mind when choosing crafts then not only will you be commemorating the holidays and spending quality time with your children but they also will be gaining vital skills