Crafting Catastrophes: The Ultimate Guide to Ruining Your Day with Kids’ Crafts
I am ready to guarantee that you can hate doing crafts with your kids. That's right, being creative with kids can become misery with kids; all you have to do is follow these steps.
Because nobody else makes mistakes like these. In fact, I'm not sure how I even learned about the mistakes. They are just theories to me.
And being hyper critical about things always makes you feel awesome and motivated to learn.
Oh- what? You don't want to be miserable?
Oh, never mind then. Try not to do any of the things I just mentioned…
In fact, I suggest trying a few tricks for containing the mess.
You don't have to get messy every time you do crafts or sensory play, but if you want to try something that might make a mess, the way you set-up is key.
Rememeber it's normal for new things to be wonky!
The truth is that sometimes it’s really hard to have fun while crafting with kids. But it can be done! It just takes practice.
It's all about connection, NOT perfection.
You don't have to be perfect, and you don't have to get everything right. A bad moment doesn't have to ruin the rest of the day. A bad day doesn't have to ruin the rest of the week.
Start when you are tired and everyone needs a snack.
Tell the kids you will have a snack AFTER you do this craft.
If people are cranky to begin with, try something new and complex, definitely.
Get everything out, and then try and make everyone wait while you figure out what you're doing.
Or pick something you think is pretty lame.
Go for the project that makes you think, “Wow, that looks tedious and boring…and I don't even like the end result.”
Speaking of end result, decide how you want it to look ahead of time.
Better yet, decide that you want the kids to make it for someone else and picture exactly what it should look like AND what it should say. This works great for thank-you cards.
Make sure what you're doing is way beyond their capabilities.
This way, you have two lovely possibilities – either you wind up having to do all the steps for them, or maybe they'll insist on doing all the steps and then throw a massive tantrum when it is physically impossible for them to make it work.
Don't plan anything to entertain the baby.
Doing crafts with the baby's older siblings? Great! While you're at it, you should probably set up at ground level so you can get a good workout trying to fend off the interested baby while also facilitating the craft project.
Speaking of set up, make sure you set up over carpet.
Have the kids wear nice clothing (obviously.)
When your child tells you they don't want to do what you chose, don't listen to them!
Try pleading and really pushing it so you can all be miserable and grouchy! If they don't like what you planned, feel bad about your lack of psychic powers.
Judge your kid's crafts.
Realize that they probably will not get into college because (face it) that paper plate cheetah mask doesn't look like a cheetah AT ALL.
Judge yourself, and do not laugh about it when you make any of these mistakes.
Because nobody else makes mistakes like these. In fact, I'm not sure how I even learned about the mistakes. They are just theories to me.
And being hyper critical about things always makes you feel awesome and motivated to learn.
Oh- what? You don't want to be miserable?
Oh, never mind then. Try not to do any of the things I just mentioned…
In fact, I suggest trying a few tricks for containing the mess.
You don't have to get messy every time you do crafts or sensory play, but if you want to try something that might make a mess, the way you set-up is key.
Rememeber it's normal for new things to be wonky!
The truth is that sometimes it’s really hard to have fun while crafting with kids. But it can be done! It just takes practice.
It's all about connection, NOT perfection.
You don't have to be perfect, and you don't have to get everything right. A bad moment doesn't have to ruin the rest of the day. A bad day doesn't have to ruin the rest of the week.
Alissa Zorn is an author, and founder of the website Overthought This. She's a coach and cartoonist passionate about helping people overcome perfectionism and shame to build authentic, joyful lives. Alissa is certified through the International Coach Federation and got her Trauma-Informed Coaching certification from Moving the Human Spirit. She wrote Bounceback Parenting: A Field Guide for Creating Connection, Not Perfection, and is always following curiosity to find her next creative endeavor.