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| Are you a non-crafty mum? |
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Becoming a parent suddenly means you need to learn a whole raft of new skills. As soon as you’ve mastered swaddling, breastfeeding and pureeing food, you jump into preparing tempting lunchboxes, telling clever bedtime stories and creating an incredible array of costumes and craft projects.
However, for many mums, craft isn't something they did before children and it isn't something that suddenly comes naturally once they do have children. But despite this, there are Easter hats to design, book week costumes to create, as well as the many arts and crafts activities that kids want to attempt.
It is well known that creative play and crafts is an essential part of learning, but what happens if you just aren't a crafty mum?
Keep it simple
Rather than endlessly trawling Pinterest for inspiration, keep it simple and let your children guide the project. If they need an Easter bonnet, an old hat with some decorations is fine. Need a Book Week costume? Let your child choose the character and think about how to turn that into a simple costume. Repurpose old clothes using fabric pens, or take a trip to the dollar store and see what characters you can buy props or a pre-made costume for. And don’t be afraid to ask around at school. Many parents have old costumes or props lying around that they are happy to lend. Remember, it's not a competition and many mums feel as non-crafty as you!
If your child wants do some craft at home, here are a few simple craft ideas that even the non-craftiest of mums can enjoy:
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Body tracing
You need: One large roll of paper, texta pens, craft bits and pieces.
Instructions: roll out the paper. One person lays on the paper and the other traces around. Then stand up and decorate the life-size drawing – drawing clothes and features, gluing on string hair, even make a pasta necklace.
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Window mosaics
You need: Clear contact, a variety of scrap paper (tissue paper is great), scissors, any craft bits and pieces (leaves, ribbon, whatever you have to hand).
Instructions: Take the backing paper off a square of clear contact and lay down, sticky side up. Decorate with the collection of cut up paper and other collected items, leaving a small strip around the edges clear. Stick to the window for the sun to shine through.
Adjust your expectations
It's never going to look like it does in the picture. And that's totally fine. Your child won't mind, and you shouldn't either. The time you spend together is what matters.
Have a messy area
Do you hate craft because of the mess it makes? Set up an area of where it’s OK to make a mess. Cover the table (and even the floor) with a vinyl tablecloth and let them create without you worrying about the mess.
Use craft kits
If you are stuck for ideas and your child wants to get the glitter out, there is no shame in heading to the craft store and picking up a craft kit. They have everything you need without any need for planning from you.
Have a craft basket
Keep all the basics – paper, ribbons, egg cartons, glue, glitter, paper plates - in one big box that can be packed away when not in use. Use old takeaway containers to store buttons, beads, pipe cleaners, lollipop sticks and whatever else you might find. Though this might feel like you are promoting craft in the house, this will actually make it much easier to create something when you have to, rather than scrabbling for equipment the night before the Book Week costume is due.
Go outside
If you don't like the idea of having any craft in the house, take the craft outside. Chalk drawing on the driveway is a simple way to draw together and it requires no clean up. Or simply take some paper and a glue stick outside and glue leaves and twigs on to the paper to make a nature collage. Not only does it keep the mess outside, it also gets everyone out in the fresh air!
Outsource
Take the pressure off yourself and leave the craft to those that enjoy it! Most shopping centres, museums and libraries regularly have kids craft activities to take part in, particularly during school holidays.
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