Crafting sparks a child’s creativity and encourages learning. These opportunities are ever more important as the coronavirus remains a lingering force in our lives. Schooling may be online, socializing with friends has been restricted, and boredom lurks around every corner for little ones. Crafting will keep your kid engaged and off their ever-present electronic devices, and they’ll even learn in the process. Whether the project is an introduction to sewing or shaping a dinosaur in clay, crafts encourage exploring color and texture while fine-tuning motor skills.
The internet is host to a treasure trove of craft projects designed for youngsters. Some are fun hands-on activities, while others present challenges leading toward a finished product. The best provide gentle guidance but leave plenty of room for imagination.
For some hands-on fun, we’ve rounded up a few crafting projects to get your family started.
Crayola Inspiration Art Case Coloring Set ($22.19, click here)
Color and more color comes packed in everybody’s favorite assortment of non-toxic art supplies: 64 crayons, 20 short colored pencils, and 40 markers. There are also 15 sheets of paper to get artists ages 5 and older started.
Alex Toys Ultimate Friendship Bracelet Party Kit ($37.62, click here)
A variety of patterns and guides will help your child craft a classic friendship bracelet. The kit includes three looms, twenty colors of embroidery thread, beads, elastic thread, beading needles, and an instruction book. All ages and craft levels will find a pattern to love, from beginner-friendly classic weaves to more challenging diamonds, hearts, and flowers.
Gamenote Colorful Kids Origami Kit ($26.99, click here)
This kit makes origami paper art uncomplicated. Easy-to-follow steps, illustrated instructions, and double-sided paper marked with patterns make it easy for young artists to see the object they’re creating.
Alex Toys Craft My First Sewing Kit ($46.69, click here)
Introduce little ones ages 7 to 12 to the basics of sewing with this kit, winner of Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys Award. It has all the essentials they’ll need, such as needles, pins, measuring tape, scissors, embroidery floss, thimble, and pincushion. The kit includes step-by-step illustrated instructions.
Fat Brain Toys Hey Clay – Dinos ($16.95, click here)
Elementary schoolers will love interactive STEM learning when it’s part of playing with clay. Choose from 18 cans of colorful clay and mold dinosaurs. Download the accompanying app for 3D step-by-step instructions.
ColorCrayz Kids Art Set ($33.45, click here)
This one is for kids aged 7 and older who are ready to make the leap from washable paints to acrylics. The kit includes canvases, paints, paintbrushes, a miniature easel, a palette, and a smock.
Alex Toys Little Hands Picture Mosaic ($12.99, click here)
Hundreds of colorful stickers let children 3 years and older create mosaics of flower bouquets, birthday cakes, lions, houses, or cereal bowls. No glue is needed, and each of the five pictures comes packaged separately with its own stickers.
Craftivity Dare to Dream Board Craft Kit ($24.91, click here)
Let kids assemble things that are meaningful to them to make their very own collage or mood board. This kit comes with wooden planks that easily assemble into a board, tools for assembly, clothespins, and a cord for hanging your art on a wall. Embellish the collage with pictures, paint, and paper flowers.
KiwiCo Crates ($19.95 per month, click here)
KiwiCo makes educational and engaging projects for kids of all ages. Select your child’s age range and area of interest (you can switch subjects any time). Your child will eagerly anticipate the arrival of each month’s crate. Each crate holds supplies and a textbook-quality booklet on the project’s subject.
While you are exploring crafty ways to keep your child engaged, there are fun, online learning activities that you shouldn’t overlook. One company that connects parents with at-home virtual classes in dance, music, yoga, and even coding for little ones is Sawyer. The company started as an online marketplace to give parents in New York and Los Angeles an easy way to discover and book children’s classes in music, sports, and after-school programs. The addition of online classes has been a seamless move for Sawyer in the Covid-19 era.