(by 4 people)
I used to home educate my two children, and we did it without curriculum. (They are now part time at a Montessori school, and that's a whole other lens :) ) For young children they can learn huge amounts from doing crafts that no so very long ago were a way of life.
My daughter, at age 6, could knit, crochet, sew, weave, work with a bead loom and hat loom and create patterns with hama and other beads. All this despite the fact that I basically crochet and weave. She's learnt lots through all these crafts - her fine manipulations skills (important to writing) are excellent and her attention span and dedication to a task is much greater than you would expect for her age.
This lens draws together resources we have used in order to help other people enjoy crafts with their children.
Starting with crafts
- Threading beads (or pasta shapes or cardboard rolls).
Easy to do and a good starting point. - Finger knitting. This is also the start of learning to crochet, and very quick and easy to do.
- Maxi hama beads. Count them, sort them, stack them, thread them. Then you can make patterns with them too.
- Paper weaving is a great way to start weaving, and if you laminate the finished result it makes a lovely present of a place mat for an admiring relative.
- Sewing on plastic canvas is a great way to get started with sewing - my daughter spent ages decorating six pieces with different stitches to make a money box. Highly recommended (and you can use a nice blunt needle as well!)
- Making bracelets always goes down well - start with a simple beaded one, move on to knotted bracelets and advance to friendship bands.
- Circular looming. If you did french knitting as a child you can do this. A circular loom just has more points than a french knitting dolly, and you can make more useful tube sizes from it. My daughter is making purses, I've made hats, you can make slippers.
Craft sites for children
- Hama Beads and Fimo at Bead Merrily
- UK shop selling hama beads, fimo and other craft and toy items. Also has free patterns and design gallery.
- CindWoodCrafts - Knitting Looms Etc.
- American site, specializes in selling knitting looms, with a variety of accessories, such as picks and project guides.
- Bernat: Our Patterns
- Bernat offers a complete line of yarns to knit and crochet. For baby items, fashion crafts and home decor, choose from hundreds of free patterns.
- Bead looms
- Beautiful wooden bead looms, on a site with lots of other craft information as well.
- Hama beads as an Educational Resource
- How hama beads work for one family.
- Tammy Yee's Origami Page- easy paper folding crafts for children.
- Easy origami and crafts for children. Learn the art of paper folding with these instructions and diagrams, from Hawaii. Keiki can even print their origami projects!
- Corn Craft - , Corn Dollies, maize dolls and traditional crafts hand made in England
- 'Tis but a thing of straw...We at Corncraft offer a wide selection of over 100 traditional designed corn dollies, maize dolls, Christmas decorations and floral items, made by local craftsmen and women from natural wheat straw grown on our farm.In addition, we supply the raw materials needed to make your own corn dollies in our own kit with full instructions to start you on 3 different styles.
- The Joy of Handspinning - How To Make A Drop Spindle
- Instructions on how to make a drop spindle, which is an ancient spinning tool for handspinning fleece and fiber into yarn.
- Tablet Weaving (Card Weaving) and Ply-Split Braiding Books and Video
- Featured item is Tablet Weaving for Parents and Children by Linda Hendrickson
I haven't read this yet, but I'm looking forward to getting it very soon. - Start basket weaving with children.
- Easy kits for starting basket weaving with children - went down a storm last year with several home education groups.
How to books on Amazon.
Butterflies for Kiri
This is a lovely story that involves paper folding (origami) as well.
Amazon Price: (as of 01/09/2009) 
Used Price: $0.38
Teach Yourself Visually Knitting (Teach Yourself Visually)
Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 01/09/2009)
Used Price: $13.81
Teach Yourself Visually Crocheting (Teach Yourself Visually)
Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 01/09/2009)
Used Price: $13.70
Galt Creative Weaving Wooden Lap Loom
Lovely starter loom for children that actually works well as well as being small and easy to use.
Amazon Price: (as of 01/09/2009)
Used Price:
Loom Knitting Primer: A Beginner's Guide to Knitting on a Loom, with over 30 Fun Projects
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 01/09/2009)
Used Price: $26.23
Ebay resources
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- How to make jewellry with children
- Making gifts and especially jewellry with your children is a great way to spend time, save money and learn as you go along. This is a quick set of hints and tips on how to get started.
