Let me be the first to let you know that I am not the art/craft type. I cant draw rabbits (well not ones that anyone would recognize as actually being a rabbit). I lose patience with sewing after spending an hour trying to get the needle threaded with my frayed piece of cotton. I am more successful at sticking my fingers together with glue than I am at sticking mosaics onto a terracotta pot. But I have to admit Im really enjoying doing art and craft activities with my daughter. Ive had just as much fun as her making collages, drawing with crayons and whipping up a batch of playdough (yes, Ive actually made my own!)
This led me to wonder why Im enjoying doing these activities when I hated art at school, when I failed textiles miserably and when no one would eat my lovingly made scones. I dropped any artistic endeavors at the first opportunity. Even my own family laughed at my drawing of a koala did it really matter that the eyes were sketched inside the koalas ears? Well, yes, I guess in retrospect it did look a little weird. But I could never get perspective sorted out. What I pictured in my mind came out quite differently on the page.
But here I am, with regular, daily art and craft activities prepared with vigorous enthusiasm. Im seeing opportunities everywhere: that bark would be great stuck on a page; Glitter on pinecones will be lovely for Christmas; well take those shells home and make necklaces out of them. Who would have thought it? Least of all me. So this is what I came up with .
My reasons why art and craft with a toddler is great:
1. I get in touch with my inner child (the results demonstrate this is true)
2. There is no pressure to perform (if I stuff up who will know?)
3. My daughter actually recognizes what my stick figure animals are
4. I am more advanced than someone else in the room (if only very slightly)
5. I decide what well make and decide what it is when its made
6. Its great doing something creative just for fun