Jan 23 2009
Crafty Youth
Crafts used to be a way of life because our ancestors made most of what they needed. Fathers began teaching their sons at a very early age to cut and finish wood for furniture and other necessary items. Mothers taught daughters such things as cooking, sewing, embroidery, crochet, and knitting. Everyone was encouraged to use up whatever supplies were at hand in a creative way to make useful items.
In this modern age children aren’t introduced early enough to crafts. Mothers work full time and have little time to do the crafty little things that were once considered necessary to make a house a home, (things that are cheaper to buy now days) so their daughters don’t learn until and unless they see someone else making a craft item, or they’re introduced to some craft in girl scouts or a similar club activity. It’s much the same with boys. Parents these days also tend to let the children experience things in their own time, and you might say establish their own agenda, but it’s my experience that if they see their parents doing crafts they will want to participate.
Even if you have very little time to spend with your children, try to have an hour or so a week. Maybe one evening can be set aside for “craft night”. Get the children involved in things you love. It’s a great way to spend quality family time and spark creativity in those young minds.
Making friendship bracelets goes back as far as I can remember and is a great way to get started crafting. Choose age appropriate materials and designs. You don’t want to bore older children or overwhelm younger ones.
Try these links to get some ideas and some instructions to get your young ones started.
A whole page of different styles of friendship bracelets .
Tutorial for a safety pin/pony bead bracelet. I’ve made some similar to these and they’re pretty easy.
Tutorial for safety pin embellished with 4mm round beads. This one’s a little more challenging, but fun to do.
Use your ingenuity and creativity. These are just a starting place. What have you got on hand that you can use to get your young ones started crafting?
