Homeschooling and crafts.. do they go together?

[sagira]

Hi, everyone:

I'm seriously considering homeschooling. Ds is only 22 months now. I feel that there's such a strong emphasis on arts and crafts in my area (don't know if that's how it is in the USA altogether). I don't like arts and crafts. I never finished anything in crafts class when I was little and dreaded to do anything with my hands -- except play the piano.

I take ds to a weekly Story Time at the library and after books they have crafts. People who like crafts (which seems to be everyone but me) would love these projects. However, I cringe.

My question is: to be a homeschooler do you have to like crafts and do lots of crafts and/or hands-on projects with your child?

My son is only 22 months and I don't know what learning style he possesses yet. I suspect he's musically inclined (like I am). I'm have a very strong visual, linguistic learning style.

Can I still homeschool but forego arts and crafts? (BTW, my dh is an artist who doesn't see the point in crafts and doesn't like them but is happy to teach ds to draw, sculpt and paint).

Thanks!

[cosmos]

I always thought I would like doing crafts with my kids but I have to say after attempting it I do hate it. I have a 5 yr old and a 3 yr old and they both love creating things. The problem is/was that every time I attempted to instruct them they would completely lose interest. I found out quickly that they could make something way cooler than anything I showed them.

My 5 yr old started making kites one time when she was 3 just by cutting the shape and taping on string. she made one after the other with each one getting more elaborate than the last until we had about 20 LOL. I keep different materials around for them to use at their own will and they can just do it themselves.

I also notice that if you get some simple craft books the pictures are helpful for even small kids to figure out how to do something, or we seem to have friends who do crafts with our kids, or library story time or our play group has plenty of people willing and wanting to do crafts with your kids.

[ShannonCC]

My first thought is it's kind of like asking if you can be a parent if you don't do crafts, :LOL Some people will say it's an indespensible part of childhood, others could not care less. My kids like crafts and I don't mind doing them with them, but it's not a homeschooling thing so much as something we just do sometimes. I guess my answer is that if you are doing perfectly fine without doing crafts as a family then sure, you can do perfectly fine not doing them as a homeschooling family.

[Linda on the move]

I think it depends on what you mean by doing crafts. Do you mean the stuff like it is Halloween and they give each kid a cutout pumpkin and some triangles and the kids glues the triangles to the pumpkin and the moms say "wow, what a wonderful Jack-o-Lantern!" in a syrupy voice? I hate that stuff.

Since your child is 22 months old, what sort of crafts can he do? Is it stuff like the jack o lantern but the moms are doing the glueing?

I'm just confused. My kids are 7 and 8 and do all sort of crafts, but at 22 months they finger painted

I personally believe that playdough is the answer to all parenting problems, but that's just me. Are you up for giving your son art supplies and letting him use them as he sees fit?

[SagMom]

Originally Posted by sagira

My question is: to be a homeschooler do you have to like crafts and do lots of crafts and/or hands-on projects with your child?

No. But if your kid turns out to like that stuff, I think you have to give him access to it--either at home or through some outside class.

[saintmom]

It's nice if you have a hands on learner to not be restricted by an auditory visual approach to whatever you're learning.As an example,I was a total idiot at math all through school.Started hs as an adult w/ my children and low and behold concepts that had eluded me for years finally started making sense.
Check out www.keypress.com www.dinah.com scholastic professional books has a title I love called Math art: projects and activities
I think alot of hs's lean toward the arts anyway.We probably seem more "crafty" 'cause there's more time to pursue it.
Do you have to do crafts as a part of hs? Of course not! One of my boys won't do anything "artsy" unless it involves computers.Another ALWAYS has illustrations, foldables ,and very kinesthetic things going on for each topic he studies.It is important to have the materials and resources available to help them find their muse!

[stafl]

it really depends on what your kid wants to do, not what you want to do. Forget those "craft" kits that you just glue some crap together according to the rules. Nobody really likes those things, do they? I thought all they were good for was keeping kids busy during sunday school. But give a kid some paper, some paint, some glue, some empty toilet paper tubes, and some pipe cleaners, (for example, it could be anything really) and the possibilities are limitless! My kids can keep themselves busy literally for hours on end. Sometimes they ask for my help, sometimes they don't want my help. I just put newspaper down on the kitchen table and let them go at it while I do dishes or pre-cook dinner or whatever else needs to be done in that room.

[Linda on the move]

My kids really like hands on learning, art, real crafts (like needlepoint) but I like those things too so I wonder if it genetic.

May be since you don't like hands on stuff your child won't either

And, like PP said, you don't have to do them, but it would be good to make them available -- but I think that's true whether or not you homeschool. After K, they don't do much hands on stuff at school, and my kids like doing it, so even if they went to school I would make it available to them when they were at home.

[UUMom]

I don't usually do particular crafts but my children are quite experimentally creative. We have a well-stocked art cabinet. Good and various paints, various clays, lots of different kinds of paper, various glues, pastels, tools, various pencils, crayons and markers of all kinds etc. Some kids get into creating all kinds of things if they have the resources and materials--and the interest.

Since you're asking, my answer would be to let your child decide, but do provide materials even before he asks--he might not know what to ask for. It doesn't seem right to me not to have these materials available for a hsing child. (Or any child). I always joke that my oldest dd can make a parade out of dust, but it's not completely true. She likes having the cardboard, staples, tape, clay, etc etc to lend a hand. My kids also like to knit and sew, so we also have yarn , needles and that sort of thing in our stash of 'supplies'.

The reason we hs is so we can lots of of opportunity to do what interests us. You can't explore or experiment without certain availability of resources.

[m&m]

Well I have one dd who loved crafts since she could grab (as a toddler) and the other one could care less even now at 4.

So I say - homeschool based on the needs and learning styles of each child. But do encourage the love of making, creating and expressing (not necessarily with craft supplies). More formal art teaching happens after they pass through the messy stages - so think of these sessions as times to experiment with mediums and learning how to hold different tools (paint brush, pencils, crayons, scissors, etc.)

I could not see a week go by without a craft, art project, or science experiment - but that is what my kids want.

Just want to add that the crafts that they do at places like story time have not really impressed me and the kids. Very cheap supplies, with very little skill or thought involved in many cases. Also usually not much room for individual expression. But it is good for them to see how others do things too. LOL

[annettemarie]

I always divide it into 3 "areas" in my mind:

- art, which is process, and not product, driven- free exploration of materials, awesome for tactile and small motor development

- craft, which is product-driven. More of an exercise in following directions than in artistic expression, generally speaking

- handwork, which is driven by aesthetics and practicality. Making something that is both beautiful AND useful, like weaving a place mat or knitting a bag.

[wende]

Man, I hate crafts. Really, really, really don't like them. I don't like to do them and I don't like them around my house. I feel like a crappy mom because of it, but man, I am just not crafty. I look at the craft supplies and think "man, I hope my kids don't decide to make something out of this crap because then I have to figure out whether to keep it or throw it away" and being the pack rat and sentimentalist that I am, I end up with a house full of airplanes made from toilet paper rolls until my dh tosses them.

Anyhow, I don't remember doing or enjoying crafts as a kid. I don't think it's a pertinent part of being a parent or a teacher. Though I do think that as your child gets older, heading to a craft store once in a while and picking out something fun to do (like make candles, which my kids LOVE and I have fun with as well) is a great idea.

[The Duchess]

I hear you with the "crafts". If you mean basically assembling something identical as every other child with all the pieces chosen by adults its my idea of art hell. I also keep finding myself in groups surrounded by friends who are super-crafty. I wish I could suddenly discover that everyone else in my group loves history or wants to talk about international foreign policy but so far it hasn't happened.

On the other hand when I found that one group I was in had decided to make a quilt, after my intial horror had worn off I realised I should make the effort to find about something new (to me). I enjoyed the process, although I can't say I really contributed very much.

I do like big messes: paint, clay, mud etc. And my two dds love that but my 4 yr old also LOVES any kind of creating even if the project presented to her seems incredibly lame to her mommy. I see it through her eyes - she experiences so much joy that it helps me somewhat with my "craft" phobia. I agree that there are plenty of ways to get creative that don't involve a trip to Michaels for glitter glue amd foam pieces. Screen printing is fantastic, so is marbling, sculpting, candle making, I could even see myself making my own cards although it might be seven years before I have the time.

[MamaMonica]

I agree with the posters that giving the kids supplies and letting them go at it is a good way to do crafts. My kids do crafts alone mostly- drawing, gluing, taping etc.

However, I love arts and crafts and so maybe it is genetic like Linda said. I enjoy diving in and crafting with the kids- not kits or anything- we just make things. I have friends that don't do many crafts and that's OK, too. Everyone has different inclinations and that's the beauty of homeschooling- you can follow the kid's interests.

[onlyzombiecat]

I don't like crafts (or coloring books) much.

For young children, I especially believe in just providing free access to materials and letting the child make what they will without adult guidance/instruction. As a child gets older, I think the occasional craft project is perfectly fine if they want to do it and they are allowed to deviate from the model.

[UUMom]

I'm not sure that I don't like 'crafts'. Some crafts are great.

I am not a 'crafty' person, but my kids have made some cool things. Wind socks, all sort of mobiles, paper lanterns, a paper mache bank, dream catchers, puppets, wool felt items from kits, felt balls from kits, and I could go on and on.

[lilyka]

if you absolutely refuse to do these things with your kids I think they might mis out on some cool stuff. I think you need to remain open to the fact that some kids are just very tactile and hands on learniers. visual learners and do-ers. and they will need hands on projects of some sort. but if you just can't stand it there are always classes

that said

I think most crafty things are nothing more than glorified busy work. anything involving pre cut fun foam for instance. But you pay $20 for a class and people want thier child to walk away with something solid. I like hands on projects that actually teach, that are real world useful or are real art. on the othe rhand my dd has a cut and gluecraft book :LOL but cutting is very good for hand strength and fine motor skills and since it came with her language arts stuff my guesi s that is thier goal. it is also a nice lesson in following instructions.

[sagira]

Thank you for the great insight!

Thanks, everyone! Wow, this is a wonderful source of learning and support.

Forget those "craft" kits that you just glue some crap together according to the rules

That's exactly what I meant. Yes to Linda on the move too. Our playgroup has this activity where people tell you what to do, what to glue, what to paste, and you basically do it for your toddler (ds isn't really interested and I'm the only one who ends up making something that looks ugly ). I don't really see the point.

I agree with stefl and lylika.. access is the key and I have no problem with that. In fact, I encourage it. If ds ever wants to paste and glue, make things, I think it's wonderful. I will provide him with the supplies.

This is what I have a problem with:

-basically making crafts for my child and trying to get him interested in it (a la playgroup where all the moms just seem to adore crafts)
-searching far and wide for craft ideas so my child can learn

Why does a 22-month-old need crafts if he has shown no interest?

I feel very much more at ease now as I see access is all that seems to be required. I couldn't help much anyway

As I mentioned earlier, my husband is an artist and provides ds with opportunities to draw and paint and I will have supplies available for when he feels the need to create.

Thanks, saintmom! I'm going to check out those website.

I was just thinking, I love to cook. For some good lessons on following instructions we could always do that. I just see arts and crafts (busywork-style like someone said) as being so artificial (e.g. "you have to make this just like everybody else").

I feel better now. In all my reading about homeschooling, all this emphasis on crafts was making me sweat

[ShannonCC]

That's a pretty narrow definition of "crafts". If that was all there was to it, I wouldn't like them either No, making your kids follow a kit exactly right is definitely not necessary for homeschooling. Just out of curiosity, where are you seeing/reading the "emphasis on crafts" of this sort? Your local group? My dd has done this sort of stuff sometimes, but never in the way you mentioned (where someone tells you exactly what to do). More like we crack open a birthday gift craft kit and she does what she wants with the bits inside. No, wait, we did go to one homeschooling party where a woman was trying to get the kids to do exactly what she said so everyone could make the same picture. Me and my friend told our kids they could do whatever they wanted. The other mom didn't understand why we would do that :LOL

We do a lot of painting, cutting, beading, playdoughing (is that a word? is now!), glueing, etc. I think they all fall under crafts. Or art? Sometimes they overlap which is why it's often called "arts and crafts" I also crochet and sew which I'm pretty sure are crafts.

[mother_sunshine]

Dd and I took a once-a-week "crafts for kids" class when she was 2yrs to 5yrs. The teacher gave us all the materials and an example to follow, then let us loose. While all the kids did their own creative thing with the materials (usually nothing even close to resembling the activity), we parents were busy making the perfect craft for our kids. :LOL The fun part was afterwards when they all played together on the playground while we got to talk.

So, yes, I see your point. Replicating a piece of something, and trying to push it on a child, is not true art and will most likely stifle any creativity that might be there.

I still fall into the trap every now and then. I'll see a cool craft kit and get all excited about doing it with dd, then she'll either completely ignore it or use parts of it and do her own thing with it. She is very creative and doesn't need me or any kit telling her what to do. Since she was a toddler all I had to do was give her an "art center" full of papers, glues, playdoh, paint, beads, etc. and she could spend a whole day doing creative things with it all.
But more often than not she has always gathered things from nature and has made her own worlds from them.

So, if it is in your child to do "crafts" then he will be naturally motivated with or without (most likely without) your help.