Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
Keep the mind motivated with creative crafts
Primary Times encourages you to explore arts and crafts as a family to get your creative juices and ‘outside the box’ thinking flowing…
Going back to school can feel a bit hectic at times. Trying out some craft activities in your free time can be a great way to mentally unwind and re-energise by creating something together. Being artistically inspired by a new hobby can keep the mind active and curious, open to thinking and learning about new concepts and ideas in interesting ways.
Have a go at Primary Times’ top 10 creative crafts:
1. Make a DIY dreamcatcher
Use a paper plate and string to make the shape, and beads and feathers to decorate! Fun to create and personalise with everybody’s favourite colours, they also make pretty decorations to put above the bed. Rumour has it, they might even help with children’s worries about bad dreams too.
2. Scrapbooking
You’ll need some coloured paper or card, some ribbon, and an array of your children’s favourite stickers or gems. Find a notepad and glue sticks and let your imagination do the rest! The more glitter on the page, the better!
3. Write a poem
Attempt a haiku, free verse or acrostic poem as a family. Write about something you’re all passionate about, your child’s favourite subject at school or maybe a topic they’re currently learning about. Crafting poetry is great for keeping the mind sharp and exercising creative expression.
4. Painting
Try spray paints or sponge painting in different shapes to make a collage of colour. For the littlest members of the family, finger painting is great. Painting is thought to help with developing motor skills and hand-eye coordination too.
5. Make a nature diary or journal
Outdoor adventures are great for sparking an interest in nature. Set up your own scavenger hunt and investigate together! Record what you can see, smell and hear in the woods. Collect leaves, petals, bits of shrubbery or interesting wild flowers that catch your eye and stick them in your diary! Look back and see how nature transforms throughout the year and the different seasons.
6. Cookie creations
Decorate cookies or biscuits together. There are some great cookie-cutter shapes and coloured icing out there to choose from. You could get inspired and decorate a rectangle-shaped biscuit to make it look like a calculator, a book, or a coloured highlighter pen to celebrate that ‘back to school’ feeling. Enjoy tasty snacks for the whole family afterwards!
7. Origami
With its roots in China and Japan, origami is the art of paper folding, creating shapes and objects for entertainment and even relaxation purposes. Attempt to make a cube or an origami frog, butterfly or dog! This activity can be a chance to talk about shapes and potentially help with strengthening concentration and patience in both children and adults. Watch the paper transform like magic!
8. Animal masks
Make the masks using halved paper plates and coloured pens, sticking some triangles on for the ears and cutting holes out for the eyes! Each family member could pick an animal from a different country or continent, so you can brush up on some geography as you go.
9. Make friendship bracelets
Use different coloured thread to weave together and some sparkly beads, and tie together at the ends. As children attempt to work through different patterns, this may help to develop their communication and problem-solving skills. Exchange bracelets with family and friends!
10. Simulate the solar system
Print out all the planets and the sun, and then attach to some string to make your own mobile model representation of the solar system. Or draw the planets, colour them in and then cut them out! This is great for visual learners and can be an opportunity to discuss space in more detail, deepening your child’s knowledge of science.