Handicrafts for boys!

My ds9.5 was a “late bloomer” in the way of handicrafts, but here’s what we’ve done.

Painted plaster figurines (from Walmart, JoAnn, Hancock’s, etc.) in “boy” designs (animals, cars)

Built and painted wooden models from kits (glue, no nails). Again, from Walmart or craft stores. But there are better options out there.

When I had time for cross stitch, he expressed interest in sewing. So I taught him plastic canvas.

I don’t know if this is considered a handicraft, but he’s also recently gotten interested in Legos.

He also uses watercolors from time to time.

HTH,

Karen

My DS is 8.  He’s enjoyed photography/making movies, sewing (we’ve done pillowcases, mug rugs, drawstring bags), crochet, origami, painting wood (birdhouses, picture frames, etc.), latch-hooking, paracord bracelets, embroidery, plastic canvas, yard work (mostly raking leaves, shoveling snow, and pulling weeds), and learning magic tricks.  With the “girlier” projects, I try to have some boyish colors, fabrics, or designs for him to choose from.  

He’s also enoyed lock picking.    He had a padlock without a combination and another without a key.  DH (and youtube) helped him figured out how to open it and figure out the comination.  I think it was a pretty good handicraft.  

This year we’ll be doing leather crafting, cooking, cleaning, and some boy-ish household things like changing a lightbulb, hanging a picture, working with basic tools, and washing a car.  We also have a birdhouse kit that I’m hoping to get to…everything is pre-cut, so we just have to assemble it.

My 6 you just started coin collecting.  I don’t know if you call it a handicraft, but she is really enjoying it!

Our dc do outside classes for this kind of thing, also.  We are beginning to do more at home, but that is hard for me as I am not crafty, either.  I have decided on (stolen from someone else) to do: soap carving/making (term 1), Christmas ornaments (term 2), flower pressing/making cards (term 3). 

We have a loom set and I plan to have the boys work on that after I get it figured out (or I’ll let them, but chances are they will get frustrated and quit, don’t want that!).  I’m counting cooking as a handicraft and incorporating them into the food prep, etc., more than usual.

We buy premade kits also…just to get the creative juices flowing. 

Oh, and my dc would like making books…that would be fun.  And, as soon as possible, we plan to utilize Lowe’s for their project’s for kids days, and just wood-working supplies (my youngest loves to build/destroy/hammer).

I’m also going to teach my dc to wrap simple gifts, starting with a gift that is for a friends birthday this weekend.  We won’t be using a bag with tissue but regular rolled wrapping paper (is that what you call it, LOL?) instead. 

I was wondering if any of you have used the Contenders for the Faith material as a framework for handicrafts.  It has a lot to offer in addition to handicrafts but seems to have an interesting way for boys to learn some handicrafts.  We have just started this with a group in a nearby town.  I would love to hear any experiences you might have with this material.