Crafts for Kids

Teaching kids crafts is more than just crafts. It can become a lifelong passion or hobby.

Teaching kids crafts is more than just crafts. It can become a lifelong passion or hobby.

As I child I learned to knit, crochet, needlepoint and cross-stitch. I made pot-holders and candles, took fabric scraps and made Barbie doll clothes and did some painting. No, I’m not the most artistic or creative person. I find doing these things rewarding and relaxing.

My daughter is still a bit too young but you can bet I’ll teach her all these things. She can pick and choose what she likes and continue with it or learn and never do it again. I’ll let it be her choice.

What made me think about this? I’m currently cross-stitching a Cinderella picture for my daughter and my friend is knitting a poncho for her daughter. Sure, we could go buy these things but it is so fun to make them. I picture my daughter passing along this Cinderella picture to her daughter or smiling as she unpacks it from a box one day.

Knitting is the new thing right now. All the movie stars are doing it and I haven’t been on a plane in the last year that there hasn’t been a few people knitting. Don’t teach it to your kids because it is the hot new thing. Do it because it is bonding time, fun time, learning time. Do it because it teaches eye-hand coordination, patience, and process thinking. Do it because it could spark a lifelong interest.

Craft stores and now even large fabric stores have great kits for beginners. Ask for the learn to knit or learn to cross stitch projects.