Mommies Magazine

Top Info: Craft Suggestions For Childrens Programs

Posted on 18. Oct, 2008 by Mom Mag in For Fun

photo credit: runneralan2004

Are you a camp director or Sunday School teacher seeking a craft idea for childrens enrichment? Perhaps you feel like you are just not the creative type, and you struggle with coming up with craft projects. It is true that some people just have a knack for finding or even inventing craft ideas, but your creativity can be improved. There are ways to make it easier to find a craft idea for childrens needs.

First, set aside any perfectionism. Locking yourself into thinking there is only one right way to do something makes every decision harder. Regardless of the kid program you are helping with, there are always plenty suitable craft ideas out there. Don’t worry about picking the wrong one! If you’ve taken into consideration the age and skill levels of the kids involved, your choice will be fine.

Next, consider your budget. When picking a craft idea for childrens programs, you have to be aware that some of them are expensive. Prepackaged kits to make a fun foam picture frame or a craft stick cross are affordable for a few kids, but if you are needing to do a craft with a lot of kids, these kits might cost too much. It’s often easy to do almost exactly the same project by just looking at the craft kit components and buying the same materials in bulk at the discount store. You may have to do some preparation, like cutting out shapes ahead of time, or at least making cardboard patterns for the kids to use in cutting out their own. The savings will be worth it, however.

Something else to take into account - in spite of years of indoctrination from women’s libbers, the fact remains that boys and girls prefer different sorts of crafts! If the craft appears a little girly, don’t use it at boys’ camp. Stick with lace-up leather billfolds, Indian artifacts, dinosaur art, and similar projects. Girls will like beads and anything that’s pink or purple. For a craft idea for kid camp where there are kids of both sexes, keep it on the boyish side and provide some pink materials to keep the girls happy.

One craft idea that I’ve found to be very popular with both girls and boys is face painting. They just like different designs
face paintings
face painting instructions
simple face painting designs
These article with give you lots of tips ad advice on face painting.

An aspect of creativity that the non-creative types don’t realize is that ideas spring from other ideas. That is, if you look over a book or website of craft ideas, perhaps none of them will appeal to you, but if you let them, they will spark an idea for a similar project. Use what you can and change what you must in the craft directions. For instance, the craft may have a slogan to be written across the front. If you need to change the slogan to fit your own needs, it’s perfectly OK.

A final suggestion is to realize that you don’t have to change the instructions or create something new to have a good craft idea for childrens use. Feel free to follow the instructions to the letter if that works better for you. The kids will have a lovely time either way. Just pick a craft idea, for kid creativity beats adult creativity everytime! The kids will make it creative, even if you have doubts about your own ability in this area.

Tags: craft tips childrens programs, Crafts, crafts for kids, mommies magazine