How to Involve Children With Handmade Jewelry Projects

Getting your children involved with your handmade jewelry projects can be fun and a great way to bond with the kids. With some fun colorful beads, beading string, and perhaps a little music and snacks, you can create a relaxing afternoon filled with plenty of beading and bonding time with your children.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Colorful beads (can be plastic pony beads or glass beads)
• Easy stringing material, such as stretch cord or leather cord
• Safety scissors (to cut the string)
• Snacks (optional)
• Workspace
• Music (optional)

1. 

   Purchase some fun, bright colored beads and stringing material for your beading projects. You can buy the leather beading cord with plastic pony beads, or buy colorful glass beads to string on some stretch string. Anything that you can tie in a knot will make it easier for the children. Take the children shopping with you to help pick out your beads to make it even more fun.

2. Set up your work area somewhere in your home. Set out your beads, stringing material, scissors, and some snacks to munch on.

3. Ask you child if they would like to use the leather cord or stretch material. Measure your children’s wrists and leave a little extra string so that you can tie a knot when it is finished. Give each child their piece of string to work with.

4. Let the children pick out their favorite beads to string onto their bracelets. Have a couple samples of bracelets for the children to look at. Have one made with stretch cord and another with the leather cord.

5. Turn on some of your favorite tunes to work to. Sit down with your children and string with them. Munch on yummy finger food snacks and enjoy the fun craft activity with your children.

6. Tie knots in your children’s bracelets when they have been completed. Make sure that they are easy to slip on and off.

7. Remember to take some pictures of you children’s work and let them show off their creative pieces of work.

Tips & Warnings

• This activity could be done at birthday parties, family get togethers, or on holidays to give the children something to do.
• Make sure that you have more than one of a similar bead. Other children may like the same beads too.

[FrazzledNanny]

on 2/26/2009 My daughter loves working with beads. She made her friends each a bracelet and necklace. Thanks for the article. 5*

[jenfoote]

on 2/6/2008 Great article. My daughter loves doing craft projects, but we haven’t tried anything with beads yet. We will soon though thanks to your article.