Does the thought of doing crafts with your kids send you into a tailspin? Where do you even begin? How should you do it? Sometimes just making it through each day can be challenging enough without adding another activity to the mix. The good news is, doing a simple craft with your child can actually improve your day!  Not all crafts need to be display worthy. The act of creating can be enough to make a memory that will last a lifetime.

It’s Not About Your Creativity

Many times, we avoid projects like crafting with our children because we are afraid that we lack talent. One mom might say, I’ve never made anything beautiful, so why would I start now?, or I don’t have a creative bone in my body. If that mom is you, today is the day to tell those voices to be quiet!

It can be easy to miss out on family fun simply because of our own insecurities, but it doesn’t have to be that way. The finished product doesn’t have to be beautiful! Take heart moms!  All you need is an outlet for your kids to create and get a little messy. They will love it. And as a bonus, you will likely end up loving that craft simply because you made it together.

Boost your Crafting Confidence by Starting Small

Sure it’s fun to browse the blogs and wander the aisles of a craft store looking for ideas. But it’s also a fast track to craft-phobia (yes I just made that up). Don’t be discouraged by all the bigger, better, more beautiful ideas. Something as simple as finger painting or playing with colorful sand and a few cups can be all that you need.

The idea here is stress-free creativity. Too much planning can take away from the fun and turn it into a chore. Dabble with a few small ideas before trying to tackle a big project. Think of it as training for a 5k. You don’t just start running 3.2 miles every day. You do a little bit at a time and gradually get better.

Make Craft Time an Event!

Even if you simply plan on coloring with crayons or markers, you can bump up the fun factor by playing dance music and taking pictures! Make craft time something your children look forward to! Get silly and make a record of it. Regardless of the outcome of the craft, you will have fun memories to savor.

Be encouraged! We aren’t all artists. We aren’t all writers or musicians. But we are built to create in some way. Crafting with your kids might just be the ticket to finding that special gift in yourself and will set an example that trying new things is valuable. So grab those crayons and make some memories!