So you’re a
dad who works and come home you’ve been working all day and your tiered and all you want to do is just to relaxes but
you child wants to play with you so what
can you do how about doing some craft
work ( things you make by hand ) this is a good thing to do with your
kids as a way to talk with your kids .relax and entertain yourself and the kids
without them getting upset and it’s much fun too
Crafts have been around since
the beginning of time when people made everything they used with their hands.
Crafts were initially created for trading, selling, spiritual or artistic
expression, as well as creating personal and household articles.
When children are encouraged to play with art
materials, they are developing:
Creativity: Assembling something unique
- Originality: Finding new ways of doing things fosters problem-solving skills
- Planning: Thinking, following through, finishing a project
- Cognitive Skills: Linear or sequential thinking to reach the desired result
- Knowledge: Learning about their world by exploring textures, materials, reactions
- Fine Motor Skills: Feeling, manipulating, sorting, arranging, pushing, placing objects
- Exploration, Discovery & Science: How things work and change like pouring glue, playdough formations, paint mixing, gravity, and velocity
- Language: Expression of how something feels, looks, sounds; its name and purpose
- Math: Sorting, patterning, ordering, categorizing
- Self-Esteem: Pride in finished project, sense of accomplishment
- Family Play or Traditions: Family connectivity, a sense of belonging, feeling valued and wanted through proudly displayed art work.
Never force kids to complete a
project they simply aren’t interested in – all you will do is alienate them
from ever trying craft again. Simply encourage them and reward them when they
do finish something. Here are some of the pitfalls of craft:
Don't get
too complex
It's easy to
overestimate your own ability (and your child's) when you see something you
like in a picture, but there's nothing more discouraging than getting part-way
through a project and finding you don't have to skills to complete it.
Determine how much you and your child can actually do.
Start simple
If you're learning a craft for
the first time, start with something extra-simple to get the feel of the tools,
materials, and techniques. Practice the techniques on something that doesn't
count first before actually beginning a project. If the project is relatively
easy, your child will gain confidence and quickly want to try something more
challenging.
Allow enough time and space
You need time to do things
right, and that's true of any activity, no matter how seemingly uncomplicated
it is. Give yourself and your child time — to think, to enjoy what you're
doing, to be creative, to experiment, and to enjoy each other.
Children
love to do crafts
So if they can be taught
something using crafts it is likely they will learn it easily and without
complaining. Crafts can be used as a tool to teach subjects like alphabets,
numbers and colours to students of any age. Younger children can be taught
basic lessons like colours and numbers. Crafts can be used to expand textbook
lessons of older students by helping them to figure out how to express ideas
and concepts visually.
Craft for the under-5s
At this age, craft is more about passing the time when it’s too rainy to go
to the park, but it’s a great way to engage your pre-schooler, toddler or baby
in ideas that provide foundation for future learning.
Benefits can
include:
- Extending their thinking across multiple patterns of intelligence
- Develop higher thinking skills
- Enhance multicultural understandings
- Build self esteem
- Gain positive emotional responses to learning
- Engage through a variety of learning styles
And here something you can do
Homemade Playdough Recipes
Everyone seems
to have a favorite playdough recipe, and many old favorites have been included
here. Some require cooking and some don't; some are meant to be eaten and some
are not. Choose the recipe that best suits your needs and the ingredients you
have on hand. Store playdough in a covered container or Ziploc bag. If it
sweats a little, just add more flour. For sensory variety, use playdough warm
or cool as well as at room temperature.
Colored Playdough
Materials
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup salt
- 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
- Food coloring
- Saucepan
- 1 cup flour
- Combine water, oil, salt, cream of tartar, and food coloring in a saucepan and heat until warm.
- Remove from heat and add flour.
- Stir, then knead until smooth. The cream of tartar makes this dough last 6 months or longer, so resist the temptation to omit this ingredient if you don't have it on hand.
- Store this dough in an airtight container or a Ziploc freezer bag.
If you have never tried making your own play dough, this is the time to
give it a try. It’s very different to store bought play dough, being much
softer and lasting a whole lot longer.
The benefits of using play dough for young
children are wonderful and the play possibilities are endless!
You need:
- 2 cups plain flour (all purpose)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
- Up to 1.5 cups boiling water (adding in increments until it feels just right)
- food colouring (optional)
- few drops glycerine (optional- adds more shine!)
Method:
- Mix the flour, salt, cream of tartar and oil in a large mixing bowl
- Add food colouring TO the boiling water then into the dry ingredients (colour optional)
- Stir continuously until it becomes a sticky, combined dough
- Add the glycerine (optional)
- Allow it to cool down then take it out of the bowl and knead it vigorously for a couple of minutes until all of the stickiness has gone. * This is the most important part of the process, so keep at it until it’s the perfect consistency!*
- (If it remains a little sticky then add a touch more flour until just right)
Voila!
You can store this play dough in an air tight container for at least 6
months. If you live in a humid climate you might need to store it in the fridge
and out of sunlight.
