Creativity vs Crafts
I know we have had this conversation many times but the holidays are a great time for the reminder. Remember when you attempted to put together your child’s first instructions enclosed, all parts included, no batteries required toy ? So many steps had to be done a certain way that you had to refer to the instructions many times. And if you’re like most of us, you felt uncertain, inept , and uncoordinated .
When a child is asked to duplicate a given pattern, Following of steps that result in an end product, the same feelings emerge. Class craft projects may be cute to put in the family scrapbook
or nice to send to grandma, but they do a little for your child’s self-esteem, and cognitive development, and creativity.
That’s why blank paper, scissors, paint, markers, glue, and a variety of other materials to choose from are available at all times in our classroom. Children are encouraged to use the materials to make their own creations.
When we do a special art activity with children, we may introduce new materials or even demonstrate possible ways to use some tools and materials but the children themselves decide what they want to create and how . The children learn more, care more , and enjoy the activity more when they produce their own creations – not copies of ours.