From as early as I can remember, anything artsy or involving crafts sparked my interest and ignited my imagination. When I became a mother, I was quickly reminded of this interest through my son. Seeing my son learn through creativity made me realize how important being able to express his imagination is to his development. I love seeing my son find his inspiration wherever we may be. Whether we are in a store or taking a walk together, I always enjoy seeing his excitement about what “craft item” we will be creating together. Becoming a mother has made me want to become more intentional with my parenting in fun and creative ways.
Incorporating Creativity into the Learning Process
With deciding to homeschool my son, incorporating arts and crafts into our day was very important to me while outlining our homeschooling curriculum. When I am teaching him, incorporating a craft into it not only encourages the learning process but also makes it more exciting for him. As he paints, colors, or uses scissors, he is practicing fine motor skills while also learning to plan and solve problems. By discussing colors, shapes, or the art materials he is using, I am also helping him develop a stronger vocabulary. When he is asking for help with opening his paint or when he waiting for his turn to use a different paintbrush, he is developing communication and social skills.
By providing the time and means to be creative, I am allowing my son to understand more about the world around him. Children are not always able to express themselves with words as adults can. With art, they can process their feelings and express their likes or dislikes instead of using words. Also, by asking open-ended questions while he works, I can encourage him to critically think. I ask him about what he is making, what materials he is using, and why he chose them. I will also ask him where he got the idea to make what he is currently working on. By assessing his comprehension, I can continue to encourage his creative mind while supporting each stage of his development.
Endless Crafting Possibilities
With his love for art evolving over the years, we started to fill the buffet table in our dining room with his craft supplies. This setup allowed him to always have these tools at his fingertips. The draws are filled with endless possibilities for his imagination to go wild with and he has made it part of his daily routine to create. I have learned to love clearance aisles, dollar stores, and craft stores for any deals on items that he can use to create. I also take him with me so that he can help give me ideas of what he would like. Pinterest has also definitely been my friend! I have a folder dedicated to “Crafts for my Kiddos,” with various ideas (holidays/season themed, etc.) that we can do with items we already have on hand in our home.
Craft Supplies
For those parents with kiddos that love to create, I have created a list of supplies that we always have on hand in our home. There is a wide range of items we have, but those listed below are a great place to start:
- Paper (construction paper, colored tissue paper, roll of white paper, contact paper, pad of painting paper)
- Various drawing media (washable paint, watercolor paint, crayons, markers, paint pens, colored pencils)
- Beads (age appropriate)
- Pom-poms/Cotton balls
- Pipe cleaners (various colors)
- Colored/plain popsicle sticks
- Glue (glue sticks, hot glue gun – used by parent, Elmer’s glue)
- Kid’s scissors (age appropriate)
- Recycled items (cardboard, magazines, containers, egg cartons, boxes)
- Items from the kitchen (coffee filters, paper plates, plastic utensils, sponges)
If you are looking for some learning through creativity inspiration head over to the Central Mass Mom Pinterest page. If you are looking for suggestions on what supplies to purchase check out Central Mass Mom’s Amazon favorites. What are some of your favorite art and craft creations to with your kids?
