Ask A Charlotte Expert: Easy Crafts To Do With Your Kids
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Lori believes everyone is born with the ability to be creative, but it must be cultivated to reach its true potential. "Whether you consider yourself a crafty parent or one with all thumbs, encouraging creativity at home can benefit your child in so many ways," she says. "Art helps develop the right side of the brain and encourages a child to step outside of the box, experiment and be open to try new ideas. It provides your child with a new set of skills for self-expression and communication. Many children find they can convey their emotions through art much easier than through the spoken word. It is important to teach your child that it is about the process and not about the end product."
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Tip 1. Select a project that is age appropriate.
When choosing a project, consider the materials used and the skills required, i.e. cutting, measuring, etc. Homemade paper mache is a tried-and-true craft that is great for children of varying ages. Simply mix flour and water together to form glue and tear up lots of newspapers into strips. For younger children, blow up a balloon and have them cover it completely. When dry, slice it in half and your child has two bowls that can be painted and given as gifts. Older children can construct a hollow structure from cereal boxes and masking tape to create a one-of-a-kind piñata to use for their next birthday party.
Tip 2. It is about the process and not about the end product.
Gelatin printing is a wonderful craft that is all about the process as it teaches children about patterns, repetition and texture, and can be done with children of all ages. Mix unflavored gelatin with water and let it chill in a lasagna pan. Place the firm gelatin "plate" on a piece of parchment paper the coat the gelatin with thinned-down acrylic or tempera paint. Look around your home for simple "mark making" tools, such as toilet paper tubes, bottle caps and jars, potato mashers, mesh produce bags and scrunched-up cling wrap. Older children can cut craft foam into shapes or carve it with a ball point pen. Once the tools are gathered, use them to create a pattern on the paint-covered gelatin, then take a piece of cardstock and lay it face down on the design, pat gently and peel the gelatin off for a print that can be framed or cut down to make greeting cards and bookmarks.
3. Consider your supplies on hand.
Rather than buying craft supplies, try using what you have around the house. Cardboard boxes, toilet paper tubes and plastic jugs can be transformed into sculptures, musical instruments and toys. If your child plays with matchbox cars, have them create a city with ramps and bridges. Encourage your child to name their city and make street signs, houses and stores. Kids will have a blast sorting through the garbage for art supplies, along with learning the benefits of recycling.
Tip 4. Designate an area and let them get messy.
Allow your children the freedom to express themselves without worry – there's always time for a bath later. Make a batch of salt dough in your kitchen and give your child some cookie cutters to create small magnets or ornaments. Mix some sweet condensed milk with Kool-Aid powder to create a sweet smelling paint that dries shiny and is completely non-toxic. Another fun project is marshmallow sculpture. Give your child a bag of mini marshmallows and a box of toothpicks and let them build. Caramels make great weighed bottoms for tall skyscrapers, while gum drops, grapes and Starbursts make good decorations
Tip 5. Art, like nature, isn't perfect.
If your child is a bit of a perfectionist, abstract art, with no rules and no expected outcome, is the ideal way to go. Gather up old magazines, flyers and newspapers and have your child create a color collage using images and words in a color family. Offer inspiration by showing them famous artwork from artists like Pollack and Kandinsky but encourage them to create their own style. If using paint, limit the colors on the palette to encourage your young artist to mix unique colors.
