National Children’s Craft Day
Photo Credit: Stock Photo
“Creativity is inspiration having fun.”
Today (March 14th) is National Children’s Craft Day. This day could have been established by my mom. She used crafts to keep me busy, because when I had too much free time, trouble always followed me. We did crafts at home around any holidays. My sister and I went to ceramic class. I painted a little witch’s face with green polka dots, because I have freckles. We were always involved in crafts. As a child, I was not too happy about craft time, but now I understand how wonderfully important that time was.
Crafts spark our imagination with endless possibilities. It reduces stress in children and adults. Importantly, crafting gives children, especially children with disabilities, a sense of accomplishment. Parents can use craft time to interact with others, to learn something new, and to have fun without a device. It stimulates their creativity and encourages their curiosity and tactile skills. For disabled children, crafting adds in fine motor skill development.
The benefits of crafting include following directions, learning independence, overcoming mistakes, feeling included, and learning social skills. It can be as simple as spending time to color together to purchasing kits from a local craft store. Crafts don’t need to be expensive. Recycling items from paper towel rolls to milk containers to create with. My mom was the master at recycling everyday items into amazing crafts. She created a dress base for a Charles Dickenson’s Christmas caroller out of Reader’s Digest.
Be mindful craft time is fun, don’t fall into the trap that it needs to look like an Etsy product or a Pinterest Pin. Coloring within the lines is overrated. Let their creativity explode. Try to make craft day every week, or every month. Make special decorations or gifts from craft time with your children. After my grandmother passed away, I got that ceramic Christmas tree with lights. It is very special to have it and I remember that special time making it. Every Christmas it is my Christmas tree.
Celebrate National Children’s Craft Day with your children!