Quick and easy craft ideas for children

You don’t need to be an expert in crafting to develop your children’s creative side. Now that art is being sidelined at school, it’s more important than ever for parents to take the lead on introducing their children to art-based activities. Many parents say that they would like to spend more time doing arts and crafts with their children, but they don’t know where to start or how to find the time.

We’ve put together a selection of quick and easy craft ideas that aren’t too difficult or too time-consuming and can be made using things that are easily found in and around the home. Although they are easy enough for children to do themselves, we encourage you to join in with them, especially if they involve using anything that may be dangerous, such as a cutter or scissors.

Are you ready? Let’s get started!

1. Mobiles made from recycled materials

Mobiles are really colourful and simple to make, and best of all, they can be made using waste materials and items that can be found easily around the home: plastic bottles, cans, CDs, old keys, sticks, toy soldiers, etc. Depending on the material you choose to create the shapes, the possibilities are endless. The idea below uses plastic drinks bottles, cord and a small stick or rod to hang the shapes on.

Instructions:

• Take a thin, light wooden or metal rod and attach a piece of cord in the centre so you can hang up the mobile once it’s finished.
• Then take a plastic bottle and using a cutter, very carefully cut off the top and the base so you are left with a rectangle.
• Now cut this into rectangular strips with scissors.
• Make a hole at one end of each rectangle.
• Thread a piece of cord through the hole in each piece, tie the end and then tie it onto the rod.
• Repeat with each rectangular shape, trying to space them evenly along the rod so that they balance.

That’s it! Now all you have to do is hang it up.

2. Pebble art

Another activity that’s very simple, but just as fun and imaginative, is creating art using pebbles or stones. As before, the variations and possibilities of what you can create are endless. For this idea, all you need are some flat, smooth stones, a piece of card, craft glue, a stick, some leaves and a felt tip pen.

How to create your piece of pebble art:

• Place the pebbles on the piece of card, above the stick. Add the leaves and try out different ways of arranging them.
• Once you’re happy with your creation, glue the pieces to the cardboard. Leave to dry.
• Using the felt tip pen, draw on the beaks and feet, and anything else you want to add.

See how easy it is to create a piece of artwork to decorate your home! Place the sheet in a glassless frame ready to hang on the wall.

3. Tetra Pak houses

Painting is a great way to exercise smaller children’s motor skills. This idea uses milk or juice cartons, non-toxic paints and felt tip pens.

How to make the houses:

• Firstly, wash the cartons and wait until they are completely dry.
• Once the clean carton has dried, paint the entire surface white to cover any pictures and writing.
• Leave to dry. Apply a second coat and leave to dry again.
• Now it’s time to “build” by painting on the windows and doors.
• When the paint is dry, use the felt tip pen to add any further detailing, such as window frames or door handles.

Place several houses together on a piece of card and build an entire village!

4. Making bracelets

One of the most popular activities to do with children at home is to thread beads onto cord to make bracelets, necklaces or other items such as Christmas tree decorations. There’s a huge selection of beads to choose from for this type of activity made from a variety of different materials, for example, acrylic, wood, glass, metal, etc. Girls in particular, will love the idea of making their own jewellery, but that’s not to say that boys can’t enjoy this fun activity which is so easy to do.

All you need is an assortment of beads and an elastic cord. Simply, thread any combination of beads you like onto the cord. When you have finished, tie a strong knot to secure.

Doing craft activities with children is rewarding for everyone. With countless quick and easy ideas to follow, it’s just a matter of helping them choose where to get started. It has been proven that when parents engage in this type of creative activity with their children, it doesn’t just have immediate and long-lasting cognitive benefits, it also allows them to have special parent-child time and create memories that will last forever.