Making dreamcatchers are a great way to have family fun and rid summertime boredom
Summer’s here and the biggest struggle for parents won’t be where to plan the family road trip. It will be a strategic war on how to remove devices from their kids’ hands. And experts are worried that excessive use of video games, smartphones and television can lead to poor math and communication skills, potentially leading to even more behavioral problems.
Dr. Michael Sonenbaum, MD, FAAP, a physician at Pediatrics Associates in South Florida, said in a South University article, “Why Parents Should Monitor Screen Time,” that, especially for children under age two, it can hinder development by contributing to language delay and negatively affect memory.
Sonenbaum continued, “Children under age 2 (Editor's Note: But that certainly applies to children of any age) learn a lot by facial expression, tone of voice, and body language — much of which doesn’t translate well on a flat screen, especially in animated or cartoon form. And if they’re watching TV, infants and toddlers are not watching or interacting with their parent(s), causing them to miss out on significant learning opportunities.”
So what to replace a tiny screen with? Crafting. Yes, crafting has more benefits than you think and cognitive development pros agree. Not only is crafting a great way to enjoy family time, it also teaches kids skills, which will give them a head start in life. And with today’s technology, you can incorporate the computer back into the crafting game using the latest machines in electronic cutting.
The folks at Cricut, the crafting pros and creator of an industry-leading design-and-cut machine, say that their cutting machines are suitable for young kids with adult supervision. And since the digital software and the machine are set up for a novice or pro, kids can create and use their imagination easily.
Cricut recently asked parents on their Facebook Page about the crafting benefits with their kids. They were bombarded with feedback with parents citing improved motor skills, problem-solving, patience and “learning to do things for themselves.” Parents added that, unlike a smartphone screen, a handmade project is tangible and its results can be a self-image booster. Hearing a kid say, “Look mom and dad, I made it!” can be both rewarding for the parent and the child. And to mention the family bonding time.
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Explaining there’s not much room for creativity or imagination when it comes to toys, one Facebook commenter said, “Many toys these days just run themselves. Crafting allows you to slow down, work through a process, use the imagination. That goes for both adults and kids.”
Glen Moriarty, Psy.D. and founder of 7 Cups, an online counseling and therapy organization based on chat therapy, agrees and says that while there still isn’t enough data to make a final determination of the effects, things like sitting in front of the television or playing with video games or gadgets, such as phones, are reactionary processes. While, on the other hand, creating or “crafting” is a proactionary process.
“Life doesn’t come with pre-packaged challenges and obstacles,” said Dr. Moriarty. “When kids do crafts, it not only sparks their creativity and imagination, but also teaches them to innovate and connect.”
WHAT CREATIVITY CAN DO
According to Better Kid Care at Penn State University, “creating” helps kids develop:
- Cognitive Skills: kids have to plan, experiment and problem-solve.
- Self-Expression: kids can show how they think and feel through their creations. It helps them cope with stress, i.e., focusing on the task at hand. Kids also develop a sense of self-worth.
- Motor Skills: When you cut, you’re using the small muscles in your hand. You need to control those muscles, and that’s how you develop motor skills.
- Patience and Nurturing: Kids develop nurturing because they see something “grow” from start to finish.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Getting creative can help develop cognitive skills just by making children think about their own process.
Tresa Edmunds, the mother of an 8-year-old special needs kid, said even a question like, “How did you come up with that idea?” will work the brain, making the child think about the process. Occupational Therapist Natasha Stott, MSOT, concurs saying, “You can even find clever ways to relate the project talk back to their everyday life, such as “Do you like to wear that color?”
FAMILY BONDING
When the entire family gets together to create projects and craft, they also get a chance to share ideas, offer suggestions and create memories. Remember, it’s important to show kids you respect their individuality and it’s ok to be themselves. No idea is a bad idea. Help them explore new materials and tools to widen the experience.
And the best part? When you’re done creating a project, you’ll have a keepsake memory that doesn’t require a digital storage drive.