Eclectic Parent

I have a friends who has a collage degree in fiber arts. Not fine arts, but fiber arts. She talks about how crafts must be both artistic and useful; that is what distinguishes them from decorative arts. Gorgeous, complex quilts, for instance, are still intended to be used. Crafts are fantastic for kids for that very reason. Every parent I know has more art than they know what to do with - especially homeschool parents. Painting, coloring, drawing, stickering, stamping can overtake your house. And yet, how many of the parents who have more art than they can fit on fridge or in storage, go and buy little paper valentines for their kids to exchange?

Valentines Day isn’t until next week, but D’s class at Casa Vida swapped yesterday. He made 19 homemade, individual valentines. He drew with crayons, used stickers and foamies and wrote ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’ on each one. Great writing practice and he made art, however he wanted. All three kids are working on Valentines to mail to their cousins. (Getting sick has put us a bit behind, but we’re getting them done slowly but surely) Similarly, large butcher paper makes great wrapping paper when decorated. Give kids stickers, markers, paint, ribbon, etc and let them make their own wrapping paper for gifts. Holiday decorations are another fantastic thing for kids to make. Why shove kids art in boxes and then go buy Valentine’s, Halloween, Thanksgiving, or St. Patrick’s Day decorations? In addition to giving you something to do with their art beside stockpile it, having them make something useful, in the definition of crafts, gives them a chance to see their artistic endeavors go somewhere beyond the fridge.