Ingredients for kindergarten readiness include glue, popsicle sticks, cotton balls, paint, stickers, sparkles and more. Doing crafts with children involves many different ways to both learn and have fun. Here are a few:
- When doing crafts kids practice following directions.
- They may need to organize their materials and plan how they will use them.
- Children can use their imaginations and exercise their own creativity.
- Some thinking skills required include selecting, comparing, making decisions and problem-solving.
- Remembering the steps and their order is great practice for both memory and sequencing.
- Children develop fine motor control as they color, cut and glue.
- Feelings of pride and accomplishment are important at any age.
- As children work and play, they use language, learning new words and strategies such as explaining and asking questions.
The pictures below are from a Santa’s workshop event for kids of all ages. The paper plate elves and Santa (picture 3) are simple even for very young hands. Three popsicle sticks colored green, glued together, and decorated can also be used as a tree ornament. The tremendous variety shows how children can have the same materials and very different ideas. Can you use any of these ideas for some Christmas craft fun and learning with your child?
