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How to Come up with
a Craft Idea for Kid Programs
by Kris
Williams
Are you a camp director or Sunday School teacher looking for a craft idea
for kid enrichment? Maybe you feel like you are just not the creative
type, and you struggle with coming up with craft projects. It is true that
some people just have a knack for finding or even inventing craft ideas,
but your creativity can be improved. There are ways to make it easier to
find a craft idea for kid needs.
First, lay aside any perfectionism. Locking yourself into thinking there
is only one right way to do something makes every decision harder.
Regardless of the kid program you are helping with, there are always many
suitable craft ideas out there. Don't worry about picking the wrong one!
If you've taken into consideration the age and skill levels of the kids
involved, your choice will be adequate.
Next, consider your budget. When choosing a craft idea for kid programs,
you need to be aware that some of them are expensive. Prepackaged kits to
make a fun foam picture frame or a craft stick cross are affordable for a
few kids, but if you are needing to do a craft with a lot of kids, these
kits might cost too much. It's often easy to do almost exactly the same
project by just looking at the craft kit components and buying the same
materials in bulk at the discount store. You may have to do some
preparation, like cutting out shapes ahead of time, or at least making
cardboard patterns for the kids to use in cutting out their own. The
savings will be worth it, however.
Another consideration is this: in spite of years of indoctrination from
women's libbers, the fact remains that boys and girls like different sorts
of crafts! If the craft seems a little girly, don't use it at boys' camp.
Stick with lace-up leather billfolds, Indian artifacts, dinosaur art, and
similar projects. Girls will like beads and anything that's pink or
purple. For a craft idea for kid camp where there are kids of both sexes,
keep it on the boyish side and provide some pink materials to keep the
girls happy.
An aspect of creativity that the non-creative types don't realize is that
ideas spring from other ideas. That is, if you look over a book or website
of craft ideas, maybe none of them will appeal to you, but if you let
them, they will spark an idea for a similar project. Use what you can and
change what you must in the craft directions. For instance, the craft may
have a slogan to be written across the front. If you need to change the
slogan to fit your own needs, it's perfectly OK. For instance, the
pictured project might say "Girls rock!" You can change that to "He is the
Rock!" if that meets your VBS needs better.
A final suggestion is to realize that you don't have to change the
instructions or create something new to have a good craft idea for kid
use. Feel free to follow the instructions to the letter if that works
better for you. The kids will have a great time either way. Just pick a
craft idea, for kid creativity beats adult creativity every time! The kids
will make it creative, even if you have doubts about your own ability in
this area.
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Kris
Williams is a logo designer for
http://www.eLogo.us and
http://www.DataWorkZ.com. She also is the creator of the HOT eBag
BLANK Template, FLAT face design BLANK eBook Cover, and the NEW WD
eBox! Check out
http://www.eBookCovers.us for more of her eCovers!
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