Preschool Crafts For Kids - 3 Important Tips

By Mary Robinson

Preschool crafts are an essential part of any preschool lesson. Without crafts, young students will lose interest, not be able to fully understand and appreciate the lesson, and will miss out on important social time to make friends. Preschool crafts must be easy to complete, safe for children, and tie into a lesson or theme.

Easy Does It

Above all, preschool crafts for kids must be easy to complete. Young students do not have the attention span for long craft projects or ones that do not show immediate results. For this reason, multiple-day craft projects should be reserved for special occasions or be used in conjunction with shorter, more concise craft activities.

Besides being short, crafts need to be easy to set up and take down. Because there is usually only one or two teachers for a preschool class, there is not enough time for a lengthy setup process. Easy craft activities are those with few materials, little preparation time (i.e. not much cutting, organizing, or arranging beforehand), and simple instructions.

Step by Step

Preschool craft projects must be able to break down into steps. When preschool teachers create their own lessons or pull from another resource, they must take into account how they are going to explain the craft to their students. Teachers must be able to tell students what to do in one or two sentences for each step.

By breaking things down into steps, students can stay more focused, and teachers ensure that all students are working on the same part of the craft at the same time, keeping everyone on track and making the craft look uniform.

If a teacher chooses a particularly difficult craft project or one with many steps, they should practice the craft before bringing it to class. This includes not only completing the craft but practicing what to say when so that students understand the task. Providing clear instructions sometimes requires outside practice, but it will save the class time and much frustration if the teacher knows how to explain what he or she wants.

Play it Safe

Above all, preschool crafts must be safe for the students involved. Some craft projects include small objects, such as sequins, feathers, or buttons. It is up to the teacher to determine the maturity level of their students and decide if the students can be trusted to use materials appropriately.

If there is a question about the safety of part of preschool crafts but it is essential to the project, teachers can separate that step and enlist an adult volunteer to oversee that portion of the activity. For instance, if anything needs to be hot-glued in place, an adult should be in charge of the gluing. Students should only receive their crafts back when the glue has cooled sufficiently to prevent burning.

If possible, teachers should choose preschool crafts that do not put students even questionably in danger. Materials should always be non-toxic and washable, as young students are often messy. Small or dangerous objects, such as scissors, should be supervised by a responsible adult to prevent accidents.

Mary Robinson has been teaching preschool for well over a decade. You can get instant access to her preschool activities, crafts, and lesson plans by visiting her website: http://www.mypreschoolplan.com For a limited time, all visitors to Mary's site will also get a free copy of her special report: "The 7 Biggest Mistakes Preschool Teachers and Parents Make". Go get your free copy today! ------------------------------------------------- For more Kids Crafts, see www.myguidetocrafts.com.

Top Ten Reasons Arts and Crafts Helps Boost a Child's Self Esteem

By Elena Neitlich

A child's self esteem is built throughout the course of childhood. Although ultimately the child develops her own perceptions of self and builds her own self esteem, reinforcement from the outside world is crucial in fortifying the child's self assessment. Appropriate responses to the child support the child's opinion of herself, "I think that I did a nice job completing this arts and crafts project." "Yes, you did a terrific job completing your arts and crafts project. I can tell by the quality of the finished piece that you really put your all into it!"

Praise just for the sake of praise isn't effective in building a child's self esteem. Kids are very insightful, especially teens, and even the most enthusiastic praise will ring hollow if it is not attached to something meaningful. "Wow, you are amazing!" "Why, what did I do?"

Creative activities such as arts and crafts provide an outstanding opportunity for adults to help bolster a child's self esteem. As the child works the observant adult has almost unlimited opportunities to point out what the child is doing well.

Top ten reasons arts and crafts helps boost a child's self esteem.

1. Arts and crafts invites the child to experiment with supplies, techniques, and directions that are often foreign and intimidating. Tackling and becoming adept at creative new tasks brings satisfaction and gratification to children of all ages.

2. Arts and crafts encourages children to push themselves to plan and finish an entire project. Children feel a great sense of accomplishment when they are responsible for completing an entire task from A to Z.

3. Arts and crafts classes produce a fertile environment for meeting and interacting with new people. It can be difficult for some children to venture beyond their comfort zones and intermingle with children they don't know. It is very flattering and a boost to self esteem for children to hit it off and work with new friends.

4. Arts and crafts classes force children to take risk and put themselves and their work "out there". It is a gamble to create something and show people because there is the possibility of receiving criticism. Children, especially teens are averse to this type of hazard. A supportive arts and crafts trainer creates an environment where children feel comfortable exposing their work. Children who learn how to tackle risk are better suited and more comfortable tackling appropriate risk as adults.

5. Arts and crafts teach open mindedness. Creative questions do not have finite answers like math or physics problems. When doing arts and crafts children learn how to explore the many different possible solutions to the problems that they face. Being imaginative and open minded allows for them to invent solutions that are exciting and inspired. Children gain the confidence to tackle many problems in creative and ingenious ways.

6. Arts and crafts aid in dispelling a child's "limiting beliefs". It is very common for children to create ideas about their own abilities that restrict their activities. Thoughts like, "I am not smart enough to do this," are destructive and chip away at their self esteem. Craft projects teach children how to change damaging preconceived notions. Children learn how much they truly are capable of and build on each experience gaining confidence with each project.

7. Arts and crafts projects illustrate to children that they can achieve success. It is good for children to discover that they can be victorious. Success feels great and inspires children to reach for more and attempt harder and harder tasks.

8. Arts and crafts allows an opportunity for children to let loose and have fun. In a relaxed and non-competitive atmosphere children can explore their carefree and imaginative side. Seeing that they are multidimensional beings contributes to their overall sense of well being and a healthy sense of self.

9. Arts and crafts classes permit children to see themselves in a fresh, new light. It is important that kids have the opportunity to survey many different pursuits. Allowing kids to choose the activities that excite and delight them gives them the confidence to later pursue their own interests and eventually choose meaningful careers and pastimes.

10. Arts and crafts promote a passion for learning! Kids who have expanded their confidence through creativity and developing a healthy self esteem are curious about learning new things. The self assurance that they build doing arts and crafts overflows into all of their endeavors making for a rich and highly satisfying childhood.

Elena Neitlich is owner of Arts and Crafts Moms at http://www.artsandcraftsmoms.com If you want to follow your passion for creativity, start your own business, and have a lasting impact on kids and teens, become a certified Arts and Crafts Trainer Take the steps to make a difference in the lives of kids and in your own life. ----------------------------------------------------------- To see more information on Crafts for Kids, see www.myguidetocrafts.com.

Printable Crafts - Possibilities and Ideas 1

By Anneke Lipsanen

LITTLE GIFTS AND TOKENS OF APPRECIATION

We all sometimes need a "little something" gift.

To congratulate, to say thank you, as a small token of acknowledgment, to wish someone luck or hope, or to say get well soon. Or to acknowledge the birthday or other special day of someone you may not know very well, like a co-worker or neighbour.

Printable crafts can make a modest item special, by customizing and personalizing it and thereby creating a new item especially for the recipient.

Besides a printer, computer and suitable graphic software, you only need a few basics for printable crafts. These include scissors, a craft knife, a steel-edged ruler or guillotine, glue, downloadable printables and suitable paper or cardstock to print on.

• A favourite all-occasion winner that is easy and quick to make, is a printed wrapper with personalized text for a bar of chocolate. A wrapped chocolate is one of the most versatile quick gifts - and the chocolate bar itself can be a budget bar or a luxurious and expensive one. Two of the most widely available and suitable sizes are 1.55 oz Hershey bars and various European 100g chocolate slabs.

There are ready-to-print wrappers available online if you want a quick and ready solution. Or you can use a printable motif and put it in a repeat pattern in a graphics program. A printable vignette picture can also be glued to colored card or paper in a coordinating color. Then you could still add a matching printable tag and a printable border design as ribbon around the middle of the bar.

Tip: Unless you buy special made-for-wrapping bars, add your personalized wrapping over the original wrapping so that the recipient can check ingredients in case of allergies.

• A bottle of wine can be personalized with a custom printable label too. Cut your label slightly bigger than the one on the bottle, but leave the small back label visible. You can also soak the label off first (which would remove the back label too) or scratch it off gently with a craft knife.

The same goes for a cooldrink bottle, beer bottle or a health drink - even a bottle of water. Add your own customized and printed label and you have a nifty little gift.

• Items like luggage tags and small sewing kits or a shower cap in a packet are useful little gifts for someone going on a journey. The luggage tag can be laminated in plastic if you have inserted or typed the recipient's address already.

• A pretty printable box or packet will elevate a small gift into something special. Like a golf ball in a custom box, bath salts or potpourri in a pretty packet and candy in a cone.

• Something drinkable like cocoa in a printed packet, or a few special teabags or coffee pods in little printable envelopes are great too.

• Lollipops can have little personalized covers and these can be inserted into a bunch of flowers, or can be tied together with a ribbon as a lolli bouquet.

• Candles are another versatile and inexpensive gift. Add a printable wrapper around two candles or around a pillar candle and add a coordinating tag. A votive candle in a glass container can also be dressed up with a wrap label.

• Add a printable topper to a packet of home baked cookies. Add a custom label or a tag.

Tip: Wrap any food that can spill or stain in food-safe plastic or cellophane first.

• Nice artisan soap is another item that can be wrapped and beautifully presented with the help of printable crafts. Wrap the soap in plain or printed paper. Then add a printed border design around the bar and glue a label on top over the border.

• Any bath product - like bath oil, bubble bath or bath salts - can be personalized with a printable label. Tie a matching tag around the neck of the bottle with a pretty ribbon.

Again, I would leave back labels intact so that the recipient can read the ingredients in case of an allergy.

Printable crafts can also be combined with store bought items to round out a gift. Why not make up coordinated combinations of many of the above for unique personalized gifts? Coordinate printable craft motifs and colors and put the items in a basket, pretty bag or gallon can for a pamper hamper or gift basket.

• You can combine drinking chocolate in a printable packet with marshmallows in a bought mug. And the teabags or coffee pods can be combined with a mug, tea-cup or even a pretty spoon.

• A small toy or activity book can be combined with a bouquet of customized lollipops for a sick child.

• And book can be combined with a printed bookmark and wrapped chocolate or a personalized bottle of wine.

• Combine a map or journal with a sewing kit and luggage tag for a useful travel gift.

Use any of these versatile budget-friendly ideas to solve those "little gift" dilemmas for many occasions. The personal note achieved with the printable element has an effect that is more than the actual value of the gift. Printable crafts help to create items that are thoughtful and distinguished.

CREATE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

AnniArts http://www.anniarts.com/ is the home of professional designer images for printable crafts and coordinating print-on-demand products. Lovely samples are available to subscribers http://www.anniarts.com/free-printables.html and craft licenses allow for the use of the art by home business crafters. The bumper "Best Of" CD contains 14 designer ranges. Anni also designs licensed products for businesses, craft companies, greeting card publishers and homeware manufacturers.

For more Articles on Crafts, see www.myguidetocrafts.com.