Advice on Handicrafts/Lifeskills for 6 and 4 year old girls

My DD6 is using a knitting loom to make small baby blankets to donate to our local NICU for the preemies.  A four year old might be able to use a loom as well.  There are plenty of things you can make with them.  DD6 found crochet and needle knitting a bit tricky when we tried 6 months ago, but I know some 6 year olds do well with it.

We are going to do some knot blankets for the NICU as well.

DD has also done needlepoint on plastic canvas.  We had a kit with the picture printed on the plastic.  This year we are going to do Christmas ornaments.

We have also used the “123 Draw” books that we found at the library.  I didn’t plan anything formal, just took out which ever book DD was interested in at the time.

Joanne

These books are really neat: http://www.keepersofthefaith.com/product/KeepersAtHomeIndex/LittleKeepersatHome.html. They can earn pins and they also sell some pre-made kits. :)Gina

We also have the Keepers of the Faith books…lots of great ideas there!  We don’t follow the actual program, but they love looking through the books for ideas.    

Some things my younger ones have loved:

embroidery

sewing (my 5yo helps guide fabric through the machine…I do all the pinning and cutting)

handsewing with felt and embroidery thread

painting, drawing, clay or playdough

napkin folding

gardening/planting and caring for houseplants

I’d say 6 is the earliest I’ve been able to sucessfully teach crochet.

Japanese braiding (with cardboard or foam discs)

cooking/baking

I’m also planning on focusing on a few different chores each term.  

For art, I love the book Drawing with Children by Mona Brooks.  It’s designed so you can learn along with them.

I can’t take credit for the blanket idea.  Someone in our women’s group at church started the project, and I thought it would be a perfect fit for DD, since the blankets are so small.  Otherwise the products of handicraft work often just becomes more clutter.  This way, she learns a skill, has the joy of serving and giving, and we don’t end up with more stuff hanging around the house!

Joanne