“Creativity is intelligence having fun.” Albert Einstein notably said. Unfortunately, we frequently limit intelligence to academic success, ignoring the significance of creativity, which is equally vital. When children participate in repetitive activities, children can become bored and uninterested, making it difficult to find new activities that catch their attention. Drawing and craft activities for kids at home can help alleviate this problem.
It is no secret that kids are captivated by bright hues and vivid shades, and the best part about drawing and craft activities is engaging with such vibrant materials. By indulging in creative activities, they uncover ideas that stimulate their cognition and are highly beneficial, like improved hand-eye coordination, enhanced concentration, innovation, refined fine motor skills, confidence, adaptability and resilience. So, how do we keep them engaged with drawing and craft activities at home? Read on to find out.
Encouragement goes a long way. Some ways you can express encouragement are:
- Avoiding too much structure: Allowing your kids to express themselves freely and explore ideas without much structure will develop an interest in the arts and crafts they create and help foster individualism. Allow them to mix patterns and colors to their liking.
- Allow room for mistakes: As kids, we heard “color within the lines” from teachers and parents. By being stringent about such rules, we tend to induce the fear of making mistakes. It is essential to ensure an acceptable balance between helping kids keep their work tidy and allowing them to make mistakes and learn from them.
- Inspire and guide: Indulging in arts and crafts with your kids will speak volumes of encouragement. Children look up to their parents, and teaching and encouraging them to mimic ideas would help them learn new concepts, patterns, and textures. It is similar to when we teach them letters by drawing and guiding them to trace them. Origami is one way to inspire and guide through unique crafts for kids.
- Allow experimentation: Avoid restricting them to drawing and painting on paper; provide them with objects; inculcate concepts of DIY crafts; and allow them to use the resources around them to work their imagination and experiment. Some examples could be painting on rocks and making pop-up greeting cards.
It is crucial to celebrate their accomplishments and recognize their efforts by:
- Posting it on social media: Kids will be able to recognize that their talent is not just encouraged by their primary caregivers but also by their friends and family, helping them develop a positive attitude and be proud of their work.
- Displaying them: Putting up their art on the wall or exhibiting it will remind them of their creative skills and drive them to improve essential skills and remain motivated. It is also a reminder that, as parents, you are proud of your kids.
- Celebrating: Positively reinforcing their creativity will help them develop a sense of consistency and motivation. It does not have to be an extravagant activity; it could be as simple as treating them to their favorite snacks or games.
- Encouraging sustained creativity: Providing kids with materials and introducing them to new ideas are excellent ways to help them continuously engage with arts and crafts.
In conclusion, drawing and crafts are great ways to entertain and promote the overall development of kids. By encouraging them and displaying appreciation, you will be aiding in helping your kids indulge in creativity, which will help them nurture problem-solving and critical-thinking skills from a young age and find ways to combat boredom at home. At Top preschools in Bangalore, such as Chrysalis Kids, children are encouraged to practice creative concepts they can master at home, so get crafting with them and watch their creativity soar.