Do you think that your kids spend way too long on their computers and games consoles? Well, if so, don’t worry – I’m sure that you aren’t the only parent that has that exact same worry! And like most other parents, I’m sure you’ve tried to persuade your kids to spend time away from their screens but with not much look. However, there is one trick that you might want to use to tempt your kids away from their devices – get them started with some crafty activities! Kids love to be creative and getting involved with a craft can get their creative juices flowing in no time at all. Not only that, though, but they will be super proud to show off whatever it is that they end up making.
Ready to get crafty with your kids? Here are a few ideas that you might like to try.
Story Writing
Lots of kids have very active imaginations. If that sounds like yours, then you should try to encourage them to write their very own stories. They don’t have to be too long – in fact, younger children might take quite a while to just write a very short story. If your child finds that they suffer from writer’s block, then you might want to give them a few prompts that they can work with. If your child really enjoys coming up with their own stories and characters, then they might want to enter local short story competitions.
Printmaking
If your children prefer to draw and color in than write their own stories, you might want to try printmaking with them. If your kids are still very young, you could simply do some potato printing with them. Simply carve a shape into a large potato and then dip this in paint. The kids can then print it onto a large sheet of paper to make a pattern. When your kids are older, they could use a vinyl printer like the ones on vinylcuttingmachineguide.com to cut out bright shapes to use to make creative prints for their bedroom wall.
Scrapbooking
Why not record your family’s year by creating a scrapbook together? All you need to get started is a large scrapbook, some scissors and glue. You can then start sticking in any mementos that you get throughout the year, such as cinema tickets and photos. Then when you flick back through the scrapbook, you will get a good overview of how enjoyable your year was!
Making Sock Puppets
Why not get your kids interested in felting and sewing? The easiest things to make with these cool crafting activities are sock puppets. You’ll be able to find patterns for sock puppets and whole kits on etsy.com/market/diy_sock_puppet. Once your kids have made one, they will be able to play with it. Create a whole team of puppets so that they can put on plays with them!
Which of these fun crafts do you think you could persuade your kids to get into?