How do you handle crafts with your pre-school/kindy age kids?

[crowcaw]

My dds (almost 5) really like playing with art supplies and they have free access to construction/drawing paper, crayons, colored pencils, beads, ribbons, buttons, glue, scissors, tape, glitter, a clean recycling bin (tubes, egg cartons, etc) and more and they utiltize it often throughout the day. If they want to paint, I also get that out at their request. They generate mountains of stuff and will get on a kick where they make the same thing over and over -- like recently they decided they like the cool patterns they get folding and cutting paper and must have used at least 100 sheets of paper in the last couple of days. Today they came up with the idea of using the results to make their birthday invitations and painted a large number of the cut sheets with glitter glue. But I rarely suggest or do "projects" with them and I'm wondering if it would be better to be a little more structured sometimes. We do make gifts together (painted frames, some wet felted holiday ornaments, candles, soap...) but unless there's a special occassion, they're really left to their own devices with the supplies. Maybe have a project once in awhile to show them something new? I look at the crafty blogs with people helping their kids generate creative and beautiful works of art and I just can't see my two tolerating as much instruction as it seems it would entail, but maybe I'm underestimating them. How do you treat arts and crafts for the young ones who really like to do stuff?

[AllyRae]

We just do a lot of free art. In fact, I never dictate what craft my children do...all three of them (1, 3, and 6 years old) have free access to the craft room with popsicle sticks, glitter, paint, paper, foam stickers, tissue paper, random odds and ends, etc. etc. etc. They all end up doing some pretty creative things. I mean, sometimes I'll put out something special, like some sticky paper and torn tissue paper if they want to make "stained glass", but for the most part, it's a free for all.

The thing I don't really like about "organized" crafts is that every time we're involved in one (usually at library story time or whatever), the lead always tells the kids what it "has" to look like, and I have to sit there and watch every other parent do it *for* their kids (I've even had the librarian take apart my 3 year old's craft, and redo it "right". My 3 year old started crying and threw it in the trash when the librarian wasn't looking...she was devistated that someone took apart her creation). So, I guess that sort of soured me on organized crafts. I have a lot of Maryann Kohl books though, so I do want to start going through those with the kids though.

[karemore]

Don't interfere!! It sounds like you are doing GREAT providing them with the material they need to be creative.

It sounds like a fantastic environment for your kids.

Sure, adult guided crafts look "better". But the long term benefits of your children's creativity and confidence in themselves is so much more valuable.

I wouldn't change a thing. Just keep your eye our for cool new things for them to use.

[NiteNicole]

My daughter likes for me to come up with ideas for her to participate with - like if I think hey, let's make salt dough ornaments or handprint something or anothers or ideas for our Christmas cards or whatever, she's all about that. For about fifteen minutes. It's usually more something *I* am making and need her hand print (do you know you can get one wiggly white hand print on 45 glass Christmas balls in about three minutes? yes, you can) or drawings for (like she likes to draw something and I'll embroider it on to a pillow case or tea towel). She also likes seasonal projects and thanks to blogs like Crafty Crow, there are a bazillion loose ideas out there that we can do together.

For herself, she will get really into one thing - like watercolor (which is sometimes done on paper, often done on herself, but chiefly involves mixing paints in cups) or drawing and telling stories and do that for ages every day for weeks and then on to something else.

If they don't seem bored, let them do their thing! Just keep giving them new bits to play with and see what they come up with. Sometimes she gets bored and wants me to think of something so I'll give her a paper plate, some glue, and various odds and ends to stick to it. Or I'll draw something seasonal and let her "embellish" it. It passes the time and usually she thinks of something else and uses that as a starting place.

I value creative thinking and creativity, so I'm happy to help her think of things or just see what she does. I don't get all freaky about making sure it's done "right" because her little takes on things are usually a lot more charming than whatever my more rigid idea was originally.

[One_Girl]

My dd has always done free art at home. I wanted her to have a good foundation in doing her own thing before she went to school and had to do more project type work.

[Cujobunny]

My kids are 3 & 5.5 and we do what you do. They love to just snip paper and make a huge mess.

Sometimes I'll sit with them and make something and if they want to try to make it too I'll show them & we do it together. But they are in no way beautiful crafty works of art I have as much artisitic ability as they do, I think.

We also make homemade birthday cards and stuff like that once in a while but for the most part it's them gluing stuff together, painting crazy colours & just having fun.

I think it's best that you let them do what they want and explore their own artistic abilities & freedom.

[crowcaw]

Ok, that makes me feel better. I'm glad that free form seems to be appreciated. I have just felt remiss or lazy in that I don't encourage anything specific. Weeks ago I spent a few hours on the Crafty Cow and other sites, made a list of project-y things we could do, got the neccessary supplies that we didn't have and thought I'd do maybe a project a week for the summer. But then when it came down to it, it just didn't happen. I think I'm just going to add the new supplies to the cart and let it be. DDs are quite creative and entertained on their own so I guess I don't need to mess with it for now. They see me doing a lot of crafty stuff so maybe as they get older they'll look for a little more instruction.

AllyRae -- I agree about the organized crafts at public venues. The parent's hands are always in it and even the comments that are being made seem kind of odd to me.

[Aufilia]

DD does a whole lot of freeform art. I fenced off part of the dining room (it's bigger than we need) and she has a small table and a bookshelf for her craft supplies, stickers, and stamps so the baby can't get to them to eat them. (He will eat anything!) She really enjoys cutting paper into bits lately. I got her a plastic tub to be her paper recycling bin because I was tired of it floating around on the floor all the time.

She doesn't watch much TV but she does watch Sprout now and then, and will come dashing up stairs with a list of supplies she needs to make whatever craft they were telling her how to do on Sprout. She has a couple craft books she can look through on her own, and once in awhile we go to a craft activity elsewhere -- the local teacher's store has a free craft every weekend which is great.

[Justmee]

We also do almost all free art. My mother sometimes brings them crafts and projects, which they enjoy, but I don't go out and buy them.

[AllisonR]

Well I am impressed with what you do! I'm a fine artist, but still not half as involoved with my kids art. They have maybe half those materials. I think you have a good mix of free play, plus projects (soap, candles...).

I agree with the pp about letting them discover their own way. My 5 yo prefers sculpture and collage from old boxes, egg cartons.... My 3 yo seems not into sculpture at all, she much prefers to draw and write (fake money, tickets, books...)