Have fun with arts and crafts with your kids: And help them learn and grow while you're at it

Why you should get your kid off their device for a bit and do some arts and crafts together.

(Surprising_Shots/Pixabay)

When my daughter was little, she was the queen of art projects. I used to scour Pinterest for ideas to keep her busy. Sometimes this led to me taking on projects way beyond my abilities and creating a giant mess.

The app was full of moms showing off their amazing-looking, but often messy and time-consuming activities.

I'm here to tell you, art projects with little kids do not have to be complicated. They can be if that's your thing. But if it's not, don't worry. Kids are often satisfied with simple pursuits. What they'll love the most is doing it with you.

How do arts and crafts help children learn and grow?

Experts say using technology, while also important, can't replace the advantages children get from making things with their own hands.

Here are some ways kids benefit from hands-on projects:

1. They develop fine motor skills and coordination. Cutting with scissors, grasping a crayon, gluing scraps of paper, are all tasks that help children learn skills that they'll need later for things like writing, buttoning buttons, and tying shoes.
2. They get to be creative and expressive. You can guide them, but they've got the ultimate control over their projects. It's a safe space for kids to start making their own decisions.
3. They do better at academics. Studies have shown that kids that do more art per day are more likely to be recognized for academic achievement.
4. Improved language skills. When you work with kids on projects and talk with them, you're helping them develop their vocabulary and communication abilities.
5. A self-esteem booster. When kids create something that they can be proud of, and that you hang on the refrigerator or display somewhere, it will help them feel a sense of achievement and develop their confidence.

Here are some easy craft ideas to inspire your kid's creative side

1. Sidewalk chalk. Kids love drawing things with chalk on the sidewalk. They'll also love it if you do it with them. If you want to make it more elaborate, you can buy stencil kits or sidewalk chalk paint.

For DIYers, here's a recipe to make your own sidewalk chalk paint.

(Marliese Streefland/Unsplash)

2. Make shapes with play-dough. I had a set of cookie cutters and a child-size rolling pin that we used with play-dough. And for some reason, my daughter loved sticking raw pasta (especially spaghetti noodles) into balls of play dough.

You can buy store-bought play-dough, but it's not that hard to make your own. Homemade play-dough has a lovely squishy texture, and you can add scents like vanilla extract or apple pie spices to make it a sensory experience.

3. Bubbles in a blender. I don't know why this was so exciting, but my daughter adored this activity. I put about a tablespoon or so of dish soap with water in a blender. It created a large amount of bubble foam that was soft and fluffy and great for scooping up with measuring cups and putting into other containers.

Here's a recipe that steps it up with color and scent.

My daughter playing with bubble foam on the kitchen floor.(Photo by author)

4. Paint with water. I got this idea from our local zoo. Employees had set up a "paint station" for children. Except it wasn't paint. It was just buckets of water sitting next to thick, scrubby paintbrushes. The kids were happily "painting" on a walkway in the sunshine.

They didn't seem to mind that their creations quickly evaporated.

5. Drawing. Coloring books are great. So is blank paper where kids can make their own creations. Be sure to always have crayons, markers, or colored pencils and drawing paper on hand. You never know when your child will feel artistically inspired.

(Jerry Wang/Unsplash)

These are just a few ideas to get you started, but the options are limitless. There are countless ways you can have fun with your kids while helping them learn and grow.

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