Your heart may already have sunk at the sheer mention of doing messy arts and crafts activities with your children.
However, continue reading and we are sure you’ll be able to put up with the mess given the huge advantages for both you and your offspring.
It is not always easy for parents to connect with their children, whatever their age, and sometimes getting them interested in something new can prove to be quite the challenge. With that said, it’s an absolute must that you’re able to get your kids to at least try their hand at arts and crafts, no matter what form it is! There are many different ways you can approach your kids with it, and it’s important to find something that they’re interested in. Grab your craft box and explore the possibilities. There are many reasons why you shouldn’t give up on it as a concept, as it’s going to impact them later on in life, not just in the moment!
Connecting with your children
Every parent needs some way that they can connect and spend time with their kids, and arts and crafts can be a great way to do that! Whether it’s something as simple as trying to get them to attempt drawing or something more complex like trying out an instrument – it all depends on your children. While it might seem too much to have them try out music, it can be easier for them to learn if they start from a young age.
No matter what you go with, trying it with them can certainly help with the encouragement, on top of it being a bonding opportunity. As their role model, it’s up to you to show them how to enjoy things, and how to approach learning! Without that kind of guidance, it can be hard for them to stick to things and keep up the motivation to learn. While they have a natural curiosity for new experiences, when something is difficult, they need to be able to keep that interest – and that’s your responsibility.
Developing their creativity
Creativity isn’t always something that comes naturally to everyone and learning how to draw it out at a young age can certainly help with how you develop later on. You must show your kids how to be creative, even through the use of a craft kit, and how to use their imagination – encourage them to do what they want when it comes to these activities. If they’re drawing, show interest in what they do, let them express themselves. People who are too afraid to embrace their creative side early on will often struggle to bring it out later on in life, which is why now is the best time to learn all about it!
Bring out the pens and paper, buy some coloured glue sticks, invest in a cheaper instrument for children – let them try things! Children don’t have access to these kinds of things without your help, so you need to make sure that you provide it for them. Even if they’re not immediately interested in it, having the opportunity for it can be a great help.
Increasing their confidence
Spending time doing something different and being praised for both trying and succeeding can really boost a child’s confidence. Not only that but engaging in activities where children get to practise using scissors or pens and pencils, for example, can be beneficial for building their fine motor skills. In turn, this can support neater handwriting and basic everyday things, such as doing buttons, tying knots and picking up small items.
Doing these activities with your children is very important for many reasons, but it can also help them gain confidence in themselves. Learning to fail is one of the most difficult lessons and showing them that it’s okay in any form is a crucial part of parenting. Let your children show where you lack confidence but let them see that you push through it regardless; it will impact how they tackle the challenges in their life.
