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We don't particularly spend a lot of time doing crafts yet. I imagine we will this winter with a lot of indoor time. DS likes stickers, finger painting, and his color wonder markers from time to time. But more than anything he's a tactile, outdoor-sy kid. I def agree that it depends on the kid and activity as far as what they get really interested in!
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if weather permits, I would do chalk art outside or make chalk paint in squeeze bottles so he can have fun and let loose. Make a BIG mess. Touch and just go nuts. Then you can spray it all clean with a hose which is another sensory play. I think key is to remember it's okay to make a big ole mess. Lay out layers of paper shopping bags to protect furniture, but don't stress. Just tell him to touch, play, draw and have fun. If you're having fun .. he'll catch on.
For art, I squeeze blobs of paint onto the canvas or into small tupperware containers. I let my LO paint with a brush but she inevitably, dumps the paint in the containers onto the canvas and then paints with huge globs of paint on the canvas. But whatever ... she's having fun touching the paint and doing what she will. I have to take deep breaths and remind myself that it's all washable and she's releasing her inner artist. Haha ...
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The one thing that annoys me about daycare crafts is that LO's craft always looks perfect. Not all kids are into crafts, so maybe expectations need to be changed - "mess time", not "follow just another impossible pinterest activity." I don't focus on the mess, but LO knows that paint/crayons/markers go on paper, not the table. When LO was younger, i taped a bunch of garbage bags on the floor and let her do whatever. Lately all LO wants to do is cut paper into strips - fine by me!
@mrbee: I'm relieved you say that because LO is always asking me to draw things! LO is barely drawing circles, so i don't mind drawing things for her. But when i'm drawing a person, i'll ask what she wants me to see on the person (e.g., eyes, ears, nose, etc.).
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I guess i lucked out having an artist for a Dad we always had a dedicated space to do arts and crafts (his studio) and even now in my own home i have a dedicated space in the basement to do messy projects. My dad was always working on a different piece and i loved watching him work and loved it even more when he would let me "try" - When i was a child he was an airbrush artist mostly advertising graphic design, which evolved into computer graphic design and photoshop/illustrator became more prevalent.
I cant say how young i was when i started really getting into crafts but it probably 3-4. My brother on the other hand is the complete opposite and wanted nothing to do with art supplies of any kind.
I think sensory activities are great at any age but maybe art just isnt your LO's forte maybe its baking. Mixing ingredients, shaping dough, cause and effect of cooking and the best part tasting!
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Haha, I thought the same thing, turns out I wasn't doing the crafts the "kid way" and I was stressing myself out. One thing that really helped me was to back away from Pinterest. I don't have the ability, time or money to create that level of perfection.
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Crafts stress me out, so I just don't bother with them. Frankly, life is too short and I figure LO will have years ahead of her to do these things in preschool/kindergarten/the early grades. Shrug.
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I wouldn't stress about doing them. I'm not really into them so I rarely bother. We do them more in the winter when we are stuck indoors. They do lots of crafts at school so I feel like that's enough. At home it's just basic coloring and drawing, which they love anyway.
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@Freckles: Lorelei is obsessed with cutting lengths of Ellie's embroidery thread (Ellie uses it to make bracelets). She will just happily cut away for a long, long time. I have given her that activity before when I needed to get something done. I figure she is improving her fine motor skills.
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@Mrs. Twine: whatever keeps them occupied, right?? I'm worried that she will realize that these scissors can cut more than paper!
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@Freckles: Yes. Though, unfortunately, we learned about "things not to cut" prior to figuring out "okay things to cut." In true Lorelei fashion. And she is fast. I was watching her, but she managed to snip a hunk of carpet, some of small dog's fur, and (waaah! my favorite!) one of her skirts. Not all on the same day, at least. Now she has a pretty good idea of acceptable behavior with scissors, and knows she will be on break and unable to use them if she isn't compliant. Hopefully your daughter will be more like Ellie was and never have an experimental phase with them.
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My son is the same way. Not big into projects...even when he is at school he typically won't do whatever the daily project is. I guess he's just not into artsy stuff just yet. He'll sometimes color/draw with markers or crayons with me for 10 mins tops, but it just doesn't hold his attention. Even when I break out the paints and easel outside, he'll get really excited about it but then only participate for like 30 seconds.
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Just say no to pointless kid crafts! I am very opposed to parent led crafting, in general. My daughter is three, and she's just starting to get interested in art on her own. I have the stuff around, and get it out when she asks, and that's it. But that's it - no direction or expectations on my part.
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