Ideas for Crafts for Kids

Encourage your kid to get crafty.

When not out burning off their youthful energy or busy learning academic lessons at school, many kids enjoy crafting. If your children are particularly skilled at creating craft pieces, or if they just enjoy the challenge associated with doing so, plan a crafty activity for them to try. Regardless of your child's age or skill level, you can likely find a craft appropriate for her, allowing her to create something of which she can be proud with her very own hands.

Flower-Covered Box

Encourage your child to create a decorative piece that she can use to stow her prized possessions. Purchase a standard wooden or thick cardboard box along with silk flowers. Before sitting your child down to complete this craft, clip the blooms off the flowers, discarding the stems and heat up a hot glue gun. If the box you selected is plain and your child would like something more aesthetically pleasing, allow her to begin by painting the box, then let it dry before you continue. Once the box is prepped, help your crafter apply dots of hot glue and attach blossoms to the lid and sides of the box, transforming the simple storage tool into a beautiful garden-themed container.

Toy Box Mural

Give your child the chance to leave his mark on his toy box by creating a toy box mural with him. If your child already has a wooden toy box that you don't mind modifying, use this as the base of your craft project. If not, purchase a plain, unfinished toy box. Start by painting the face and lid of the box. Then help your child sketch out a mural to place on these surfaces. Help him paint this planned mural, making the box all his own.

T-Shirt Artist

Create a wearable work of art with your crafter. Purchase a standard white T-shirt or use one of dad's old ones to save some cash. Arm your child with fabric paint and allow her to transform the plain T into a beautiful garment. This craft is particularly appropriate if there is a special event coming up for which a custom T-shirt may be appropriate.

Scrap Pillow

If you are a seamstress, allow your child to put your scraps to good use by creating a scrap pillow. Allow your child to go through your scrap pile and pull out fabrics of which he is fond. Help him trim these scraps into even squares, then patchwork them together. Let your child create additional decorations to add to your patch-worked piece. For example, he could clip his first initial out of fabric and hand stitch it over the patch-worked backing. Finish the pillow by attaching a solid piece of backing fabric and stuffing it. This craft is a wonderful way to introduce your child to the art of sewing, as it provides a simple introduction to the skill.

References

• Kaboose: Crafts
• Family Fund: Kids Crafts by Age