Let Your Kids Craft!

I’m no Martha, but I can craft like it’s nobody’s business. I love to be creative and to let my glitter shine. Because I’m all sparkly and stuff, I’m always trying to find crafts that my girls can do also. It’s a great way for us to spend time together while doing something we love.

You don’t have to be a Pinterest Princess to incorporate some sort of crafting into your kids’ life. To me, it’s so important to help your kids use their minds and helps them to develop leadership skills. I often let my girls drag out the craft kits when I know I will be busy for long periods of time doing housework or when I’m working on the computer. Beats popping in a movie any day.

So many of the motions involved in making art and crafts such as holding a paintbrush, learning to use scissors or scribbling with a crayon, are all essential to the growth of fine motor skills in young children. I always let my 3 year old use kid scissors when we are coloring or crafting. Having good scissors skill is important when starting school

Another reason I love my girls getting messy to their elbows in glue is because of the experience in making decisions and choices. I believe the course of creating art carries over into other parts of life. I want my girls to be leaders and making decisions on their own is a step in the right direction.

There is so much visual learning that goes along with arts and crafts. Drawing, sculpting with dough and even the threading of beads all help develop visual-spatial skills. Now more than ever toddlers are mastering smartphones and tablets, all because of what they see visually. Kids learn by seeing and doing. That’s probably why the phrase “do as I say and not as I do” isn’t very effective…

I’m also a big believer in arts and crafts helping kids with their academics. There are many studies that show there is a correlation between art and other achievements. My oldest daughter doesn’t exactly enjoy school so I love to help her in other ways. Art is one of them.

And for goodness sake! While it is true that making art has many developmental benefits, there is something to say about doing art just because. Opening our children’s eyes to a new, exciting world found in art should be reason enough.