Get Crafty with the Kids

We love the craft store as much as the next person, but sometimes it’s downright exhausting to even consider entering such an establishment with children in tow. The begging! The “looking” with hands instead of eyes! Give us strength.

But we want to get crafty with the kids, because we believe artistic expression is important to a child’s development, and making mom-approved messes builds confidence and relationships. So, we’ve got some tips to make crafting with kids fun… and keep mom cool with it all.

First: The Awesome Trash Stash. Empty paper towel rolls, bubble wrap, cereal boxes, Gathre packaging (!). Anything sturdy, reusable, or with potential. We all have Awesome Trash; the trick is to see it for what it is and hold onto it with purpose.

Then: get outside. Your yard, neighborhood, and city park are full of nature’s version of Awesome Trash, too. Collect pinecones, acorns, leaves, and seedpods. This is a fun activity in itself, and can spark conversations and ideas even before you’ve gotten home with your haul.

Finally: Set up the studio. Everything else you need, you probably already have (or, at least, can buy in the supermarket). Glue sticks, googly eyes, water-based paint, birdseed, construction paper. Slip your little into a Gathre Smock, line the floor or table with a Gathre Mat, and craft away.

That’s it! The messes will be happy and basically free, and the clean-up will be minimal — setting yourself up to master the art of parenting.

We’ve got you covered with some basic crafts using basic supplies.

Bird Cafés
Supplies:

• Pinecones
• Peanut butter
• Birdseed
• String

Salt Dough Leaves
Supplies:

Animal Friends (Birds, Hedgehogs, etc.)
Supplies

Tissue Paper Collages
Supplies