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Handicrafts & Art
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Enrichment Year 1 suggests sewing, pastels, and crochet for handicrafts and art. Can/should I do sewing and crochet with my boys or should I leave those for my daughter and pick something else for my boys? Just wondering if they’re not boyish enough? Also, for pastels, what do I need to order from Creating a Masterpiece? Thanks!
I often pick hand crafts that interest my kids, but I think it is fun to learn (and teach) all sorts of things. I taught my son to crochet when he was 9, along side his older sister, he made his own winter hat and is very proud of it. He also knows how to use a sewing machine. He also loves to dig holes, chop down trees, and use a wood burning tool.
Pastels are actually really fun to work with!
I do not think there are things to “girlish” or “boyish” when it comes to hand crafts. My husband knows how to sew. It is actually a great life skill, who knows when a guy is going to have to patch a hole to his work shirt or stitch up a split seam…
Paper Sloyd or origami is also a great hand craft too. What I often find is that hand craft is not just about creating but learning to follow directions and attention to details and some even pull in math and geometry skills.
Side note. When we did modern American and World history they had some chapters about the knitting efforts during WWII (I think it was) and how men and women (even high ranking polititons), boys and girls, were knitting socks, scarves, mittens… for the soldiers. It was EVERYONE! So if by chance your son thinks it is “girly” look up that information. My son thought it was so cool. He has even crocheted a few hats to donate to the local homeless shelter because he was inspired by the men that knitted during the war.
I try to mix it up for both my boys and girls. Traditionally women spun yarn and men knitted it. I taught all of my kids to crochet, but only 2 kept going with it (both girls). My DH was actually a better sewist than me and once made himself a button-up shirt! There’s nothing wrong with boys having some sewing skills and it’s great for fine motor skills.
On the flip side, I lost my DH in a car accident and now wish I knew more “men’s skills”. I am having to learn so much about home repairs and yard work. I don’t want to put my girls in the same situation. We try to include things like starting fires, woodworking, and working with tools as part of our handicrafts.
I agree with mixing it up too and teaching girls “men’s skills” as well. Our kids, daughter and sons, have helped me with plumbing issues, replace toilets, redo under kitchen sink plumbing, lawn sprinkler line repairs. They helped me and their dad knock down a wall and build a new wall, moving outlets along the way. I have replace outlets and light switches with my kids help, they know how to flip a breaker and where the turn off for the main water line is for the house.
My mom did a lot of the small projects at home, so I learned from her that tools can be used by everyone (once you know how to properly and safely use them).
Properly reading a tape measure and ruler is a HUGE skill I am amazed many don’t know how to do it correctly why origami and paper sloyd and sewing are great hand craft skills because measurements have to be exact.
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