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When I began working in my craft business I always loved (and still do) watching the children’s faces as they stood proudly with their finished products.

But I soon realised that the end result was only one part of the story. What they were learning though the process of creating the craft was just as rewarding.

What children can learn and the skills they are developing through play is a crucial part of the early childhood learning.  Play = learning. Through their natural curiosity, imagination, investigation and purely the courage of giving it a go, children are gaining valuable life skills.

Take 2D foam craft  as an example,  it looks as though we are only putting layer and layers of foam stickers on a board to make the finished picture. This children’s craft is more challenging than we think, there are lots of skills involved in making the finished product:

Cognitive / Thinking Skill – Children need to first evaluate and decide which shape goes where and which shape need to go first – children are problem solving and using their trial and error skilsl as they work through the picture.

Coordinating Skill – Children are developing fine motor skill, as they take the backing off each sticker shape and then place it onto the board.

Social / Relating Skill – Children can work alongside others such as friends or a parent. They are developing communication skills – talking about what they are doing, watching others to see what they do, taking turns and sharing the foam stickers .

The process also builds confidence – as the picture comes together and they will sense their achievements and teamwork. A child once said to me at the workshop – “this craft is challenging but rewarding at the same time”

Essentially children are learning life skills, through hands on experiences – by doing, watching others and experimenting. The great thing about children’s craft is it has broad appeal and it helps children develop independence, confidence and the different skills they need to develop.

On the flip side parents also learn about their children through play, as it provides great insight into their personalities, strengths, interests and social skills.  As you watch your children grow through play you see their art work evolve from a scribble to a face with arms and legs or in the case of foam art it starts with stickers covering the board in random locations, to a perfect replication of the design completed independently.

So the next time you see your kids playing take a moment to enjoy the process as they learn, grow and have fun.

  • My son absolutely love crafts and it’s such a special time we can share together. I love watching his facial expressions change as he puts together his masterpiece and the sparkle in his eyes as he proudly declares his masterpiece is complete

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  • I absolutely love this… I love watching my son do things like paint and colour… and his face lights up when I sit and help him 🙂

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  • Crafts can also help improves children attention span – they learned to focus, problem solving, complete a task, etc. – all this will help towards paying attention in classroom. Some parents use craft activities for children to unwind after a long day at school, at weekends or holidays. They can also be useful in distracting children from their computer games, ipad and etc.

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  • So important! As a teacher, I’ve had great success with game-based activities. Kids love playing, they have fun, learn to cooperate, they consolidate their knowledge and best of all they don’t even think they’re working!

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  • When my boys do craft its a good oulet for them to show imagination and it can also be a way of expressing feelings.

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  • Play is so important for our little ones. The benefits from learning through play are plentiful

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  • I love watching my daughter when she does craft. The intense concentration she gets trying to work out to make what she wants and how she is going to do it.

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  • I love finding fun and enjoyable play for us to both enjoy

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  • It’s just amazing the things that my three year old teaches me every week after spending only one day at preschool, who focus on learning through play. It’s just incredible.

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  • Play, improves social skills, spatial skills and everything in between… plus it’s fun

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  • Such a great way to learn skills for the future!

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  • Craft days with my girls are the best we ALL have so much fun and i enjoy seeing their artistic side come out when they make things.

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  • we love craft, ad I use to think it wasn’t helping certain skills, but realised too that they get so muh more out of it than I thought….. Cutting, problem solving, maths skills, shape ecognition

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  • My daughter just loves crafts.
    Its how we bond 🙂

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  • I always enjoy watching my kids learning new skills. Even now that they are a little older, when they achieve something new its great to see the sense of achievement on their face.

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  • Watching my daughter do craft also teaches Mum some lessons too. Patience, to teach and control to not take over and colour in the lines.

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  • Children who have great difficulty with lots of other skills find success in craft.

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  • I’d never really thought about craft helping to build co-ordination and social skills! Better go grab the glue out :/…

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  • i love have my children are so different. it helps me be more patient and understanding ti watch things from their point of view. i love watching them learn and helping them also

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  • Never thought of it that way but so very true, I love watching them learn and develop skills

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