Every now and then when you have small kids, you can find yourself stuck inside and have no choice but to figure out some way to keep them entertained. Or at least stop them from destroying the house out of boredom. My personal favourite method, beyond having a glass of wine whilst they watch tv, is the tried-and-tested method of arts & crafts.
Going through such a creative and artistic process with your kids can give them an experience which will create meaningful memories they’ll cherish the rest of their lives, and it can also help teach your children the value of working with their hands to make something permanent.
But when it comes to actually being creative, it can be impossible to decide where to start. To help you out, I’ve put together a few ideas which rarely need more than a few colouring implements, some paper, scissors, glue, cardboard and maybe a printer (filled with paper & ink, of course). Once you’ve got your tools, it’s time to crack on
1: Fancy Dress
Drawing out lines on a piece of cardboard can be a job for any kid, but we obviously recommend that any use of knives or scissors is heavily supervised by a responsible adult. With a few splashes of colour and the right shape, almost any costume can be replicated at home, and I hope you can come up with some fantastic creations!
2: Finger Puppets
This craft can be recreated with paper or card and is an activity which encourages play as well as creativity. With finger puppets, the creativity doesn’t only stretch to making them; after your puppets have been made, you have an ensemble of characters ready to recreate your favourite scenes from film and tv!
Here’s how it works: using a printed template (which you can easily find online, but make sure you have the supplies to print them out), everybody begins with a blank puppet to colour in and decorate. Once the puppets are ready, go wherever the children’s’ imaginations take you. Take it one step further by creating backdrops with pen and paper.
3: Tissue Paper Creations
All you need for this final craft is a lot of tissue/crepe paper, some glue and some card to stick the tissue to. We’re all used to using colour to make a portrait, but scrunching up tissue paper to make a piece of art is not only easy-to-do, but allows for some fantastic and creative 3D artwork!
Once you’ve got a vision in mind, simply tear, scrunch and stick until you bring it to life together! This one can’t be beaten for its simplicity, making it ideal for younger children.
Take your pick from these ideas and be sure to let me know how it went!