Sharing Crafts With Kids

I love being able to share my skills as an artist and craftsperson with kids.  I’ve taught hundreds of kids over the years (and performed for thousands as a puppeteer) and have picked up a few tips from teaching.

My number one, all time tip?

Let the kids feel like they have say in what they’re doing!

One of the first formal art classes I took as a teenager was lead by an artist who taught by having his students copy his work exactly.  In fact, he had been teaching that way for many years.

Was I bored?  Oh yes!

I wanted to learn techniques that would allow me to create my own vision – not reproduce his.

I’ve always remembered how frustrated I was with that and try and let my students come up with their own finish product.  I demonstrate techniques – but when it comes to the final product, the kids get to be creative.

Sewing with your kids?  How about letting them “shop” your stash or chose the pattern?  Making crafts?  Why not give your kids a little more free rein to chose their own colors or put materials together differently.

It may not turn out to be the project you had in mind – but I can almost guarantee that your kids will want to keep on crafting!

image: Stock.xchg