In a society seemingly run by screens, it can be easy to forget about the value of hands-on projects, yet those can be some of the most important activities for your child to do! The act of making things isn’t just fun; it builds vital life skills. It can reinforce lessons being taught in other areas or open a child up to a new talent or interest.
The act of creation also gives kids control in a world that is usually out of their control. Kids live in a world largely built and managed by adults, so when they are given the freedom to make something entirely of their own imagination, designing how it looks and operates, they can feel true ownership and empowerment.
You might be surprised by how much a simple craft project can teach.
Crafts help build:
- The ability to follow step-by-step directions
- Dexterity and fine motor skills
- Patience, especially when you need to redo a step
- Empathy and leadership by helping others with their projects
- Self-confidence when you complete something challenging
- The understanding that you don’t have to be good at everything
- The courage to try new things
- Responsibility for cleaning up after yourself
- Bonding through shared creative time
You can play a big role in encouraging your child to be a maker simply by giving them freedom to express themselves:
- Designate an area in your home as a free-for-all making space. Creativity is rarely neat and tidy, and your child needs to feel that it’s okay to explore and really get their hands dirty.
- Gather found objects your child might be inspired to make things from. These can be paper towel tubes, excess tin foil, sticks, rocks, old scraps of fabric, string, rubber bands, random buttons, empty milk cartons or cardboard boxes, and even age-appropriate and safe pieces of outdated electronics and appliances. All of these items—along with more traditional crafting supplies like glue, tape, paints, markers, and construction paper—will give your child the materials they need to get going. Open-ended building projects and toys can also be helpful.
- Set aside uninterrupted time for them to brainstorm projects and then follow through on them.
- Ask your child to talk to you through what they made and why they made certain decisions. What do they like most about the project, and what (if anything) would they do differently next time?
- Take photos of the creation and create a Maker Gallery on the refrigerator, in the hallway, or in their room.
Lastly, check out local groups or organizations that inspire children to use their imaginations. For example, Girl Scouts follows a girl-led approach combined with hands-on, creative activities and collaborative problem-solving, which is a perfect space for girls to explore and discover! Girls earn badges like Craft and Tinker or Create and Innovate, using their creativity and design thinking to brainstorm real-world solutions and invent new objects.
Bring your young maker to a Fairy Garden Party near you this fall, where she can use her imagination to create a fairy garden to take home while making some new friends (and you can learn all about the benefits of Girl Scouting, and how to join). Every girl will also receive a free patch and activity kit! Learn more at gsccc.org/discover — and let's get crafting!
