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Learning through craft

Art and craft can be a lot of fun for kids, but did you know craft also helps our little ones develop essential life skills? Child and Family Health Occupational Therapist, Britt Woolfenden, tells us how something as simple as drawing with a pencil can help children when it comes to feeding and dressing themselves.

"Craft is a way of making learning fun for a child" says Ms Woolfenden.

"When a child starts drawing with a texta or a pencil, that's a hand strengthening exercise that can help them grip a spoon or a fork."

Drawing also helps children develop a hand preference (left or right), preparing them for writing.

By the time a child starts drawing simple shapes, or colouring in (around age 3-4 years), these skills also help them to be able to do things like open a lunchbox or unscrew a drink bottle.

Cutting and gluing paper for a collage might seem pretty simple - but for a little one, there's a lot involved! They're strengthening their hands using scissors and learning how to sequence a few steps together.

Embracing craft time is an essential part of learning for our children – and provides mums and dads with plenty of decorative pieces to hang on the fridge.

Learning through craft Learning through craft

 
Craft ideas:

For more creative ideas click here

 
Craft tool kit

Having the right equipment ready can make craft an easy activity. Here is a list of some things you might need, no matter what you are making:
Here is a list of some things you might need, no matter what you are making:

  • Paper, cardboard or tissue paper
  • Glue
  • Something to write or colour with, like coloured textas, chalk, pencils or crayons
  • Scissors
  • Paint and paintbrushes
  • Textiles like yarn or felt
  • Beads and string
  • Paper plates
  • Brown paper bags


 

One of the great things about craft is that it is good for your children's development.

  • For craft ideas that strengthen little hands and fingers click here
  • For craft ideas to help your child develop the skills they need for writing click here

 

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Page Last Updated: 14 February, 2018