Tips for Crafting

Crafting is a great way to challenge your child to try out new things or practice new skills. Expression through art and crafts is also a great way to reflect on self, even in young children. But it is important that adults create an environment where children can challenge themselves to learn new things and even do things that seem difficult. Here are a few tips on how to do that. 


Remind parents how to give positive feedback to their children during activities: Don’t just praise the result, or simply say “great work, good job” rather praise the process and be specific. Give praise for the effort your child has made, how they kept trying, how well the child concentrated. Ask the child what they are happy with: “What do you like about your painting?” Wow, you must feel proud!    
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Tips

1. Give your child the time and space to explore, reflect and realize, and provide the idea that the task may seem hard, but you can do it yourself.
2. Be patient! An adult may be thinking about finished airplane while the child's mind is on the job, and at the same time his thoughts are flying in different worlds. The child's work is progressing at its own pace, and the most important thing in craft work is the working process of reflection, exploration and insight.
3. Patience is also required in problem-solving situations: parents should be able to leave room for the child's own reflections and insights and not give ready made answers to ptoblems (if age appropriate).
4. Remember that the facilitators' role is to ensure the safety of the work. Crafting tools can be dangerous if they are not handled correctly.