When Kids Are Not "Crafty"

by Kori Rodley Irons | More from this Blogger

07 Jun 2007 05:31 PM

Art projects, crafts, and childhood seem to go together. At least if you look at all the activities and projects available for children. But, just as all adults don't enjoy or feel like they are "good" at crafts and art efforts, plenty of children do not enjoy crafts either. What can you do if you have a child who just isn't "crafty"?

My son was never someone who enjoyed the steady diet of cutting, pasting and coloring that was required in elementary school. It wasn't that he was "against" it-he just didn't really have the fine motor skills, or the patience. And, he often felt like it was a waste of time. In fact, though he is now in high school, I recently got a call from a teacher because she had handed out paper and asked the class to "draw a picture that represented their family" and my son totally balked. Since it was an English class and because of his total disdain for "crafts"-he was not having it and felt like it was a waste of his learning time. Ah, the rebelliousness of teenagers.

For those of you who have a child who isn't crafty, however, you probably understand how often the school-age child is expected to participate in arts and crafts. If I had to do that much cutting, pasting, coloring, and drawing in my job as an adult-I would get mighty crabby. I'm all for creativity, but the focus on arts and crafts can be tough for a kid who really hates it, or doesn't feel like he or she excels.

As a parent, I've had to do some intervention and advocating for my non-crafty child-but I've also helped him develop some basic skills and ways to accommodate when teachers are heavily-dependent on crafts. Just letting him know that I understand and acknowledge and appreciate that crafts and coloring are not his thing lets him know that I'm on his side and accept him as who he is. We've also found some types of arts and crafts he DOES like-he likes making practical things like soap and candles. The abstract expressing doesn't turn him on, but making something practical and useful does. Being able to find some things he does enjoy has helped him to see himself as more "crafty" than he first thought, and broadened his appreciation of the arts and crafts process.

See Also: Quickie Crafts for a Busy Family

Tween Crafts--Cool for School

Ten Reasons Why I Love Doing Projects With My Daughter

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Dale Harcombe (10426) 07 Jun 2007 10:44 PM

As a non crafty adult, I can associate with that idea of trying to do crafts. As a child I tried it because everyone else did and it was expected. As I grew up I decided I didn't have to be like everyone else but only do what I was good at. I can be creative with words but not anything that requires my hands. My son is similar whereas my daughter is brilliant with her hands. A God given gift she didn't inherit from her mother. I think children should be allowed to be creative in the way that suits them not forced into a mold by schools of all having to do and be the same.