Many parents look for activities and crafts that their children can enjoy. Ideally, the craft would not be a busy job that simply fills up time, but one that will push your child towards a new challenge.
As a mother of four children, I know without a doubt that my children are unique, with distinct strengths and tastes. I really loved introducing my kids to fabric art because the possibilities are so varied and can be customized by the user. One of my favorite crafts in this area is making a friendship bracelet.
Here are just a few of the benefits of spending time with your child making one or more of these colorful accessories:
1. Your child will practice both small muscle dexterity and eye-hand coordination. These are the same skills needed to write by hand, type, and drive a car.
2. Knitting the different strands involves counting and following a pattern. These are math skills you’ll need in school. Even the SAT has questions about “what’s next in this sequence?”
3. It will help your child explore color and realize the pleasure of making something beautiful. You can name colors and talk about the color wheel when choosing a bracelet. A parent may discover that their child is color blind BEFORE attempting to enter a field where color choices are key!
4. Completing a bracelet project on your own is a self-confidence builder. Don’t you love it when you hear: “I can do this by myself”?
5. The materials needed to make friendship bracelets are few. You can start small and simple, but the variety of patterns and colors presents a constant challenge. Your child can expand his creativity by drawing new designs. This is also an easy-to-carry craft that can keep a child engrossed on the go.
6. A friendship bracelet can be easily adapted to any child, whether male or female. The pledge of a loyal friendship is a great concept to teach along with simply making a colorful bracelet. I remember my three brothers making up their own “tribal rules” following the Indian blood brother ritual. Exchanging bracelets or rings is a pact ritual used in the same way that mixing blood is a physical expression of promise… and definitely more hygienic!
7. Best of all, the final product is something that comes from the heart. Taking the time to create a friendship bracelet makes a loving and special gift for friends, teachers, or grandparents.
Take care to avoid frustrating your child by testing their preparation and using the easier patterns to start with. So enjoy experimenting with your child; The possibilities are endless!