Part of raising a well-rounded child is ensuring that they’re able to get the enrichment they need through mentally stimulating activities. Though making sure that your child always has something fresh to discover and learn about may seem like a daunting task. It’s actually quite simple as long as you know what they’re interested in, and tailor the activities you plan to their likes and interests. That being said, let’s take a look at five of the best colorful craft ideas kids you can provide your child with, and the ways in which your child will benefit from doing them.
1. Construction Paper Collage
Making a construction paper collage with your kids is an extremely easy starting point to get them into crafting, and it can be done with nothing more than a few household items. To get started, you’ll need a pair of safety scissors, several types of colored construction paper, glue, printer paper or cardboard, and if your kid wants, some crayons or colored pencils.
To make the collage, your kid can cut or tear off pieces of construction paper in whatever shapes they want, glue them onto the piece of printer paper or cardboard to create an image, and add a few extra flourishes with the crayons or colored pencils. The actions of cutting and arranging pieces of paper to form a unique image is great for teaching fine motor skills, and those skills can be honed further as your kid starts doing more complex crafts.
2. Origami Crafts
Origami is a bit more complex of an activity, so we recommend it for kids around ages 6-10. In most cases, standard paper won’t be the right shape or size for origami. So you’ll either need to trim a sheet of paper to size or buy sheets of special origami paper to get started. From there, though, your child more or less has free rein of what they want to make, with a variety of internet tutorials out there that’ll teach them anything from a simple origami crane to the most complex mythical creatures. Due to the precise nature of origami, we recommend it less for helping kids develop fine motor skills to begin with, and more for learning patience and precision.
3. Learning to Draw
Drawing is an activity that isn’t just for kids. but can be continuously practiced, improved, and refined well into adult life. So if you’re looking to raise a creative child, there’s no time like the present to get them set up for success. Though you can end up spending a ridiculous amount of money on art supplies if you’re not careful, for a kid who’s just starting out, some basic crayons, markers, and colored pencils should work just fine without costing too much.
From there, you can either give your child ideas for things like simple animal drawings, or just let them run free with the art supplies. There are benefits to both, with the former teaching the ability to draw pictures based on observation, putting real-life concepts to canvas, while the latter allows them to fully explore their sense of creativity and style. Whichever you decide to do, though, it’ll help your child start thinking in a more creative manner, as well as boosting their fine motor skills.
4. Finger Painting
A great option for younger children, finger painting is perfect for fine motor development. To get started, be sure the paints your child is using are washable and non-toxic. Finger painting isn’t exactly known for being a clean activity, so once your child is done, they may need a quick soak in the tub to rinse everything off, and needless to say, you want to be sure that the chemicals they’re coming in contact with are safe to touch. In addition, you may want to lay down a sheet of butcher paper over the canvas or piece of regular paper your child is trying to paint, as this will make cleanup afterward infinitely easier. Other than that, though, finger painting is an incredibly open-ended activity, so let your kid have at it!
5. Drawing With Sidewalk Chalk
Sidewalk chalk does two great things for your child: encouraging them to be creative, and encouraging them to spend more time outdoors. This might also be the most affordable activity on the list, because as long as they have a single package of chalk and a surface made of concrete nearby, your child will have everything they need to enjoy themselves for hours on end.
Looking for more great advice and tips on engaging your child’s mind, or need to pick up a few of the products to make it happen? Feel free to visit our site at ToysCentral today!