Kids' Crafts

History

Crafts help develop the imagination while building fundamental skills that can last a lifetime. Many children's crafts are similar to those enjoyed by adults. Children can learn to knit, crochet, weave, build with wood and clay, explore paper crafts, and make many original works of art. Children's projects are designed for people with small hands, limited attention spans, and undeveloped skills. They should also appeal more to a child's sensibility rather than an adult sense of aesthetics. Masks, toys, and birthday decorations are popular choices for children's crafts.

Many crafts enjoyed by children as leisure activities today were once chores necessary for survival. In previous centuries, children learned to knit socks and hats, make candles, and build wooden furniture at an early age. Often, the only toys a child owned were ones he or she made with natural materials or scraps found around the house. Cornhusk dolls, wooden tops, pine needle doll beds, and suede pouches used for carrying pebbles and glass marbles were among the first children's crafts in colonial America.

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, needlecrafts were an essential part of a girl's schooling, and replaced some academic subjects offered only to boys. Woodworking, however, did not become part of most school curricula until the twentieth century, when industrial arts was introduced as part of vocational training for boys.

As mass production changed the American lifestyle, many skills were left behind. Some traditional crafts, including weaving, pottery, and basketry, were revived in the early twentieth century, when the fine arts became an accepted part of early education. As educators and parents continued to learn more about the developmental needs of children, crafts became a routine part of children's lives.

Near the turn of the century, manufacturers began to cater to the needs of children and schools began to stock construction paper, crayons, safety scissors, and non-toxic glue. Potholders and sewing cards were introduced during the 1930s. Play-doh was developed during the 1950s.

While children's crafts have always taken advantage of scraps and other recycled materials, the environmental movement of the 1960s provided additional inspiration. Craft books that feature tin can and egg carton projects are popular, and children especially enjoy the transformation of junk into useful items or keepsakes.

Basic Craft Supplies for Young Children:

• Glue (stick, homemade paste, and other non-toxic adhesives)
• Plastic safety scissors

Crayons

• Washable markers
• Non-toxic paints and fat brushes
• Finger paint
• Paper (tissue, construction, origami)

String

Tape

• Painting smock, apron, or old shirt
• Newspapers (to protect surfaces)
• Child-size table and chairs (optional)

Additional Basic Supplies for Older Children:

• Scissors
• Glue gun
• Craft knife
• Watercolors or acrylics and brushes
• Fine markers
• Colored pencils
• Woodworking tools and supplies
• Knitting or crocheting tools and supplies
• Sewing tools and supplies
• Ceramic tools and supplies
• Basketry tools and supplies

Top Ten Household Items to Save for Crafts:

• Cardboard tubes
• Milk cartons
• Yogurt containers
• Yarn scraps
• Baby food jars
• Oatmeal containers
• Egg cartons

Notions

• Fabric scraps
• Paper (junk mail, wrapping paper, wallpaper, magazines)

Natural Craft Materials:

• Seashells
• Pinecones

Seeds

• Grapevine
• Rocks and pebbles

Sand

• Feathers

Twigs

Top Ten Craft Items to Purchase:

• Wooden boxes and other pre-cut wooden shapes
• Craft sticks
• Molds for soaps and candles

Glitter

• Polymer clay, Play-doh, or other modeling clay
• Play-doh extruder
• Colorful pipe cleaners
• Beads and threading material
• Decorative hole punches
• Decorative edge scissors

Tips & Techniques

Help the child select a project that is age appropriate. Revise or substitute materials and techniques if necessary.

Select projects that will help develop the imagination and/or new skills.

Inspire the child with samples of completed projects. Visit stores, craft shows, and museums for ideas.

Gather all supplies. Cover the table and floor, if necessary.

Cut out components for young children or otherwise prepare any steps that will help the child meet with success.

Whenever possible, allow the child to express his or her own individuality. Don't worry if faces are green!

Encourage the child to try new things.

Help the child work through frustrations. Adults can guide and offer support when necessary.

Supervise young children at all times. Keep small items out of the reach of toddlers. Supervise older children when using adult equipment and tools.

Communicate about arts and crafts whenever possible. Convey the value of homemade versus store-bought items and the importance of personal expression. Discuss color, texture, smells and other sensual details.

Inspire children to develop craft skills in childhood so they can build on them throughout the rest of their lives.

Trends

Many crafts for children are timeless. Others follow trends set by adults. Currently, knitting and crocheting are popular among both girls and boys. Creating toys and decorations with brightly-colored pieces of foam is another popular children's activity.

Multicultural crafts and crafts associated with literature, science, history or other educational disciplines are typical projects in most schools. In the 2010s, school systems and educators started to focus on incorporating arts education into what were traditionally considered "hard science" disciplines. Proponents of STEAM (science, technology, arts, engineering, and mathematics) programs argue that the integration of art and science education encourages innovation, makes scientific concepts relevant and tangible to students, and provides context for how artists use science and technology in their work, and vice versa.

Kid's Crafts for Fun vs. Profit

Teaching children is the most common way to be involved with kids' crafts. Schools, day care centers, after-school programs, camps, conventions, and youth organizations need creative people who are knowledgeable about crafts and understand the needs and abilities of children. Entrepreneurs can start up ceramics studios or other facilities. Children can be encouraged to sell their crafts at arts festivals and galleries that cater to children.

Learning More

Organizations

Artists Helping Children <http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/>

Association for Creative Industries (formerly Craft & Hobby Association) <https://www.craftandhobby.org/eweb/>

International Child Art Foundation <http://www.icaf.org/>

Books

Braman, Arlette N. Kids Around the World Create: The Best Crafts and Activities from Many Lands. John Wiley, 1999.

Campbell, Desiree. Fun Crafting for Kids: 50 Projects for Playing, Learning, Celebrating, Cooking and Giving. Page Street Publishing, 2020.

Carlson, Laurie. Kids Create! Art and Craft Experiences for 3-9 Year Olds. Williamson Books, 1990.

Chatterton, Crystal Ward. Awesome Science Experiments for Kids: 100+ Fun STEM / STEAM Projects and Why They Work. Rockridge Press, 2018.

Crafts for Little Kids: (101 Really, Really, Really Fun Ideas!). Better Homes and Gardens, 2003.

Dall, Mary Doerfler. Little Hands Create!: Art & Activities for Kids Ages 3 to 6. Williamson Books, 2004.

Paris, David. Young Artists. Teacher Created Materials, 2018.

Sousa, David A., and Thomas Pilecki. From STEM to STEAM: Brain-Compatible Strategies and Lessons That Integrate the Arts. Corwin, 2018.

Walker, Lester R. Carpentry for Children. Overlook Press, 1985.

Wiseman, Ann Sayre. Making Things: The Handbook of Creative Discovery. Little, Brown, 1999.