Crafts are bad?

I don’t know that I’d say they’re ‘bad.’ I think the CM way is to make ‘handicrafts,’ things that are useful…rather than gluing a popsicle stick on a paper plate, etc.  I did more crafts w/my eldest, as a new homeschool mom and not very familar w/CM. With my 2nd, I just kept some craft supplies around and books w/instructions/pictures if he wanted to occupy himself (he enjoyed that sort of thing)…but didn’t stress about needing to provide him w/formal crafty projects at a young age. Now I just try to teach handicrafts over time……

Serious handicrafts are encouraged (things that MAKE sumething).   Paper, glue, sticks, macaroni – throw away type crafts are not so good.

What I REALLY think is not good is the production-line paper crafts often seen in schools, churches, scouting/guiding for younger kids (beavers,cubs, brownies, sparks, etc…) – where the child is told what to make, shown exactly what it is looked like, and is done step by step so that they all look almost exactly the same.   

That said, a few years ago, when my oldest were 4 and 2 (and I was very expecting) – we were in a preschool type once a week activity group (not preschool exactly – but a once a week activity for kids ages 2-4).  There was usually a craft… and although there was a general what we were making, it was heavily encouraged that the kids do it with very little help at all.  As I had 2 kids there, and could hardly move around… my kids did do it almost totally independently.  But there were some parents that would pretty much do the craft for the kid.   I think it was beneficial for my kids… but not sure that the kids that hardly got to do anything on it benefited much.  

I’m similar to the others.  We have a ton of craft supplies (some purchased, as well as random recycled items like paper towel tubes and kleenex boxes) that my kids have access to all the time.  We also have a few books showing them how to make different things (paper folding, etc.).  They use things like fingerpaint, tempera paint, and watercolours quite a bit.  My DD7 is always creating something.  I don’t plan or direct anything, other than just making a suggestion to get out the paint or something once in a while when they seem restless and are looking for something to do.  Most of the products get displayed for a few days, then are tossed when we need the room for the next creation.  The joy is in the exploring.

For ‘school’ however, we do handicrafts.  These are things where I choose (with input from the kids) something that I think will be beneficial to learn and that will produce something worth keeping or giving as a gift.  My DD7 is currently finishing a baby blanket on a knitting loom that will be donated to the NICU at our local hospital.  Then we will start making Christmas ornaments with plastic canvas.

My kids also love crafts.  I guess we’re about like everyone else here…handicrafts for school and letting them explore materials on their own time.  Recently they have been building items for their Webkinz stuffed animals.  I think they find most of their ideas on the website and then adjust them a bit.  My oldest has made a cute construction paper campfire, hot air balloon rides (with balloons, yarn, and plastic buckets), and a milk truck (from an empty milk jug).  They did a bit of experimentation with the balloons and where to attach the yarn to the “basket”…the first ones wanted to tip over and they fixed the problem.  I think they are learning quite a bit from this!  

I recently read a CM blog that talked about how her DD loved making collages.  While it’s not very practical, it gave her DD a creative outlet.  Last year, I picked up a bunch of Oriental Trading crafts.  Some involved creativity and others just involved looking at the directions.  Either way, they had fun and learned about following directions (which will help with things like following a sewing or knitting pattern).  I think if you can find some sort of value in it, you’re on the right track.  

We were previously using HOD which is loosely CM-based.  My DC weren’t big fans of the projects because they told us exactly how to make them.  I remember a Native American “blanket” that told us exactly how to draw the stripes.  I guess you could say they were learning how to follow directions here as well, but every single art project was like this!  We were usually able to modify them a bit to allow for more creativity, but they are much happier with our art this year.  We are currently using Draw Squad and will be starting brush painting next term.  With Draw Squad, we all draw some simple object (like a cake or tv) then we add our own personal touches.  It’s so neat to see what they each come up with!  We’ve also done a bit of sewing and quilting for handicrafts…and they have access to some fabric scraps and felt for their free time.

We actually use things like paper plates, toilet paper rolls, etc. to make crafts that are useful for gifts. Like the toilet paper roll snowflake ornaments (all of our family has trees so this makes a nice gift or gift tag that can then be an ornament).

I don’t do too many crafts though but when I do, I try to do things that can be used for the County Fair, gifts, re-used for lessons (like our paper plate clocks we made and use again and again).

I also love using found objects for crafts like containers I might throw away otherwise, nature collages, etc. These are always fun for my kids.

We keep milk caps and have neighbors and family giving them to us, and we make things from those like letters on them, numbers on them, etc. We are also making homemade games from them now. This is a type of craft at our house too (making games from found objects).

I keep very basic supplies: paints, craft sticks, found objects, paper, glue, and whatever else I happen to have at the moment.

Just yesterday 7YO DS, who is recovering from major surgery on Wednesday, went on his own and made two crafts. He made two scenes: an ocean scene underwater and an ocean scene above the water. The beauty of it is that he drew a whale and cut it out and put it on a popscicle stick and then made it able to swim on the water’s surface! Very CREATIVE! He also had drawn and cut out all types of fish and sea creatures.

On the other he made a boat that floated on the water via a popsicle stick. It had the water, sky, a few smaller boats drawn on, etc. I realize these will eventually be thrown out, but he has played and played with this for hours. And he created it all by himself.

I don’t like doing crafts for crafts’ sake but to allow creativity and to expand on what we’re already studying. I agree with others that the child needs to do the work.

I teach 3YOs at church and my co-teacher and I don’t even make an example. We just tell them here are the items and go back over our Bible story while they work on it. I love how different they all interpret it, using the same basic 3-4 items.

Oh my, yes.  Sometimes I cringe about the “wasted” stuff.  lol  It depends on what they are making. Not much help, am I? =)