Positive Effects of Crafting on Children
When children are surrounded by an environment full of materials to display their creativity they have the possibility to expand their imagination and use their creative abilities to the fullest. This increases their self-confidence and esteem by obtaining beautiful results based on their actions.
Instantly, they feel proud of their creations and accomplishments. In a simple way, their creativity becomes a realization of their ability to solve problems and find solutions by simply applying their creative ideas.
The development of creativity is also a very important quality as they mature in each stage of their lives. It has been proven that a creative person will have more possibilities and opportunities for realizing academic, professional, and personal success.
How to Encourage Children to do Creative Crafts
First is to facilitate an environment in your home that promotes art and crafts, as well as overall creativity. One way of achieving this is by setting aside a corner of a room with a table and materials for crafts: plastic “children safe” scissors (like those used in kindergarten), glue, papers of different colors and materials, tempera, watercolors, fabrics, wool, clay, brushes, beads to thread.
It is important to realize that younger children will need help at the beginning. You can propose and promote activities regularly at home that the family can do together.
Older children can venture into more complex crafts, such as weaving, embroidery, sewing, pottery or carpentry. This last one is excellent to foster father and son bonding. If you do not have experience in these types of crafts, what better opportunity to learn together as a family!
The internet, especially YouTube (always being monitored by the parents) is a very good source to discover and embark into a new creative activity. Creative crafts are more than fun for children.
In the following TEDx Talk video Ms. Maeve Aickin explains how problem solving and making can change how children think and work. This is essential if we are going to raise a generation of capable kids.