Crafts, an activity that many children adore, is one of the top 10 activites that adults do with kids.
Kindergarten and nursery school teachers, doting grandmothers, loving aunts
feel that since children usually love pasting and cutting, then crafts is a great way to spend time with each other. This is often done around holiday tiem

Since most adults realize that children love crayons and paint, it is natural for them to assume that using these materials in a crafts activity would be a perfect time filler.

The assumption that adults usually fall under is the expectation of what a crafts project should be. They see adults crafts and think that children’s crafts should also look as well formed. They therefore, come up with more adult like ideas and then expect the kids to copy these ideas. I call this “copycat crafts”.

If you are a real traditional sort and have no problem with creating robots out of your children then go right ahead and keep doing these kinds of crafts. The web is replete with them
if so it will be a cinch to find tons of tradtional crafts projects to do with kids.

Let me tell you though, why I feel that copycat crafts can do more harm than good. You can also go download a free report  that will help you with all kid crafts by explaining to you in detail the pros and cons of copycat crafts and educational crafts.

If you think about it it makes alot of sense. Traditional arts and crafts can turn children into robots when they don’t let think for themselves as to the creation of their projects. Let me explain to you why tradtional crafts can be so detrimental to your children.

Art has a higher calling than just being used to commemorate holidays. While children are having these enriching experiences they should also be getting educational benefit from it as well.

Creativity, independence, initiative, and self esteem should be just some of the by products of children’s crafts activities.

Copycat crafts, many will tell you is great for kids fine motor coordination. which may be true, but that’s probably the only benefit.

I have a great post for you that gives a great example of creativity in art by showing you how children can make a crafts activity of flowers using both methods.

There are so many art opportunities during the year but, many adults only stick to holiday time.

So what does a person do now?
If you like the idea of adding more creativity to kids crafts you can check out  Educational arts and crafts which will give you lots of crafts for kids to do that are truly educational.

If you want to try doing educational crafts on your own, however, and not copycat crafts  then there 4 points  to keep in mind when choosing a crafts for your children.

1.    Does this activity allow for any problem solving?
2.Does this project let the children use their thinking skills?
3.    Where’s the creativity here?
4.Would a child feel a sense of accomplishment after doing this craft?

If you keep these thoughts in mind when choosing crafts then not only will you be commemorating the holidays and spending quality time with your children but they also will be gaining vital skills

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