Do you want to inject a little creativity into your family life? If you do then why not join me for 50 Crafts to Try Before You’re 10! It is a free open ended challenge, designed to get you and the kids trying different craft activities and projects.
March 2020 update: Due to the current situation with Coronavirus, I am running this challenge as a 12-week challenge. It’s still completley free, and will remain as an open ended challenge as well, but if you want to join in the 12-week challenge make sure you sign up for the e-mails and join the Facebook group.
Arts and crafts are hugely beneficial to children’s development. They can help with the development of fine motor skills, problem solving skills and general brain development. Not only that, but exposing kids to numerous creative processes and different media can also help children express themselves, inspire their imagination and build their confidence.
Inspired by the National Trust’s 50 things to do before you’re 11 3/4, which largely focuses on outdoor activities, I came up with this challenge initially for our family. I wanted to make a check list to make sure I was exposing my children to all sorts of different crafts and not just the ones I was familiar with.
So I came up with a list, and then decided to build a challenge around it to help others introduce more craft activities into their lives and 50 Crafts to Try Before You’re 10! was born.
You really don’t have to be under 10, or a parent to join in (but 50 Crafts to Try whoever you are was a less catchy name for the challenge!), it’s suitable for everyone who wants to explore their creative side. From painting to textiles; papercrafts to modelling; mixed media to nature inspired crafts; there really is something on there to suit everyone.
If you want to join in with the challenge there’s a convenient checklist which you can print off to keep track of how you are getting on. You will also receive periodic e-mails from me full of ideas and inspiration, as well as our weekly newsletter so you can see how we are doing with the challenge.
There will also be a designated Facebook group with lots of ideas and inspiration for craft projects, and I’ll be doing some lives in there (if I’m brave enough!) to show you some of our creations. You can also share your craft projects on social media and use the hashtag #50CraftstoTry. Keep your eye out for some competitions too!
There are 6 catogories of crafts, so here is a little taster of each one!
All are simple enough to do at home with the kids, with minimal crafty supplies needed. Some are super simple, and suitable for kids of all ages. Others might need a bit more discipline and adult intervention so best left for when the kids are a little older.
Painting and Drawing
Even the youngest of children can enjoy painting and drawing, from simple finger and handprint art to more precise tracing and drawing.
Papercrafts
Paper is not just for writing and drawing on, but can be used to create all sorts of projects. We love paper mache and making tissue paper suncatchers, and I’m looking forward to trying out some quiling with the kids- a craft I haven’t tried since I was a child myself.
Modelling
Modelling with different materials is great for letting your children express themselves. Materials do not need to be expensive, in fact some of our favourite modelling activities are junk modelling, and pipe cleaner modelling.
Textile Crafts
Lots of these crafts will be new to us. The kids have had a go at sewing, but i’m looking forward to doing some more structured projects with them. Recently we have been making a lot of pom poms, and I have bought a kids crochet book for us to learn together, so watch this space!
Mixed Media Crafts
This can be anything from colllages, button art even making slime. Some exciting projects in here!
Nature Inspired Crafts
Nature can inspire so many crafts, and I love utilising what nature offers us in our creative activities!
So I really hope that’s given you some inspiration, and that you are excited as I am about starting the challenge! If you haven’t already, sign up by filling in your details below, and don’t forget to join me over at the Facebook group, I’ll see you there!
Kerry x
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11 Comments
As a former early years practitioner, I love this post#kidsandkreativity@_karendennis
what a great idea, we will definitely be working our way through the list! #kidsandkreativity
Great! Don’t forget to get your checklist and come and join me in the FB group x
I love this idea! I have signed up to the challenge and can’t wait to get started. #kidsandkreativity
That’s great news! Happy to have you join us x
I love this! I always have good intentions of doing crafts with my kids, but then when it gets to it I run out of inspiration. Now I will have a checklist at hand for brilliant ideas #kidsandkreativity
That’s great to hear! i did it as I tend to stick to what i’m comfortable with and wanted to stretch myself as well as the kids when doing activities with them.
I love this idea of having a checklist to make sure we do a wider variety of crafts! And happy that we can join in even if over 10 😉 x #KidsandKreativity
Ha ha, 50 Crafts To Try whatever your age didn’t have quite the same ring to it! Really pleased to have you join in x
I think nature crafts is my favourite catagory! What a great challenge! #KidsandKreativity
It’s the one we are conecntrating on at the moment with all this lovely weather we are having!