You already know how much I love to craft. But crafting with children is also a great opportunity for learning. You may remember “arts and crafts” in school as a way to pass the the time or as busy work. But incorporating crafting activities into early learning can be incredibly beneficial for our little ones’ development. Here are several ways you can do this.
Fine Motor Skills Development Through Crafting
Crafting activities often involve using small muscles in the hands and fingers, which can help develop and practice fine motor skills. Activities like cutting, drawing, coloring, and gluing can all contribute to this development.
Creativity and Imagination
Crafting allows children to express their creativity and imagination freely. Encourage them to come up with their own ideas for crafts or provide open-ended materials that they can use to create whatever they want.
This picture is the perfect example. Although all 3 children had the same shirt with the same design, each was able to be creative in their own sense to decorate their shirts.
Language and Communication When Crafting With Children
Crafting provides opportunities for children to practice language and communication skills. Encourage them to talk about what they are making, describe their process, and ask questions.
Crafting With Children to Practice Math Skills
Crafting activities can also help children develop basic math skills such as counting, sorting, and measuring. You can incorporate these concepts into crafts by having children count the number of items they are using, sort materials by size or color, or measure and compare lengths.
Science Exploration With Craft Projects
Crafting can be a great way to introduce basic science concepts to little ones. For example, you can explore concepts like cause and effect (e.g., what happens when you mix certain colors together), or introduce simple scientific principles like buoyancy or magnetism through hands-on experiments.
Cultural and Social Awareness
Crafting activities can also be used to teach children about different cultures and traditions. For example, you can introduce crafts from around the world or use crafting to celebrate various cultures.
Crafting With Children Promotes Problem-Solving Skills
Encourage kiddos to think critically and problem-solve during crafting activities. If something doesn’t turn out the way they expected, encourage them to brainstorm solutions and try again.
Emotional Development
Crafting can also be a therapeutic and calming activity for anyone. It provides an outlet for self-expression and can help children regulate their emotions.
Crafting to Build Child-Family Bonding
Crafting together can be a great way for parents and children to bond and spend quality time together. It provides an opportunity for shared experiences and conversations.
Overall, incorporating crafting into early learning can be a fun and engaging way to support children’s development across multiple domains. Be sure to choose age-appropriate materials and activities, and always supervise your littles during crafting activities to ensure their safety.
Family Resources
I’ve created and shared several resources inside of Cricut Design Space that I’ve used with my little learners. Here are a few you may like:
