Crafters Anonymous: Arts and crafts teach kids more than how to make a mess
(LEAD) Executive Director of the Treehouse Museum Lynne Goodwin poses for a photo at the Treehouse Museum in Ogden on Monday, March 7, 2016.
The springtime craft project is made from construction paper and crayons at the Treehouse Museum in Ogden on Monday, March 7, 2016.
The springtime craft project is made from construction paper, crayons and a paper tack at the Treehouse Museum in Ogden on Monday, March 7, 2016.
The springtime craft project is made from folded construction paper at the Treehouse Museum in Ogden on Monday, March 7, 2016.
The springtime craft project is made from paper and scrap ribbon, feathers and string at the Treehouse Museum in Ogden on Monday, March 7, 2016.
The springtime craft project is made from plastic Easter eggs, feathers, paper and a cut up paper bag at the Treehouse Museum in Ogden on Monday, March 7, 2016.
The springtime craft project is made from construction paper, pipe cleaners, ribbon and air dry clay at the Treehouse Museum in Ogden on Monday, March 7, 2016.
The springtime craft project is made from felt, craft balls and goggly eyes at the Treehouse Museum in Ogden on Monday, March 7, 2016.
The springtime craft project is made from yarn, beads, paper, construction paper crayons and pipe cleaners at the Treehouse Museum in Ogden on Monday, March 7, 2016.
OGDEN — Once a month without fail for almost 10 years, most of our 11 grandchildren show up to hang out with me and their Papa, and electronics are banned for most of their stay.
Keeping children entertained without using electronics can seem like a challenge, and so I’m grateful for resources like Pinterest and PBS for Kids, which I use to plan the next arts and crafts activity.
We have made many art objects over the years including:
- Yarn and popsicle sticks have changed into God’s Eyes.
- Egg cartoons and toilet paper rolls have been turned into small cars, planes or armor for battle.
- Old socks have been recycled into snowmen.
- T-shirts have been painted with favorite “Star Wars” characters.
- Tall towers have been built using marshmallows and toothpicks.
- Handprints have been painted onto tiles for their parents.
I’m not the only one that enjoys allowing kids to use their imagination to create art objects out of stuff found in the home.
Several of my grandkids love it when their moms take them to The Treehouse Museum, at 347 22nd St. The Ogden museum offers many activities for children under the age of 12, including arts and crafts.
Lynne Goodwin, the executive director of the museum, said arts and crafts have been important components of the museum for the past 24 years. More than 150,000 children have made a craft or two at the museum over the years.
Her staff tests the different ideas to make sure the craft is simple enough for most kids to make and also that it appeals to both sexes. Most of the materials are toxic-free and also washable, if needed.
She showed me samples of spring craft items. Most required construction paper, glue and creativity.
I loved a fish mobile that was made out of construction paper, string, beads and pipe cleaners.
“We use a lot of pipe cleaners,” Goodwin said.
She also told me they love “construction paper crayons.”
“What?” I said..
“Oh, they’re the best,” Goodwin said. “They’re much brighter on colored paper.”
Goodwin said they’re hard to find, so I searched online when I got back to the office. They’re available at office supply stores and on Amazon.
Back to kids’ crafts.
Goodwin showed me an Easter egg created from construction paper. The designs on the outside teach a child about making “patterns.” The child can decide where to cut the egg in half and then glue either a chick, a dragon, a monster or whatever inside it.
Among the craft supplies Goodwin’s staff has on hand are plastic Easter eggs, ribbons, lace, yarn, glitter pens and beads. Some are donations, others are bought on clearance.
On the day I visited the museum, Jane King of Ogden was in the Art Garden with her 2-year-old granddaughter.
They were making a book, like all the children were that day, called “All About Me.”
The parent or grandparent sat with their child, asked them the questions in the book and the child would draw a picture to answer the question.
King’s granddaughter traced her handprints with a green marker, drew her house with a brown marker, and drew herself dancing with a pink marker.
Morgan Summers was overseeing the activity.
“I just love watching the kids be creative,” she said.
So do I. I think for April my grandkids can expect to make paper birds with tail feathers out of ribbon and lace, plus that fish mobile with construction crayons.
You can reach reporter Loretta Park at lpark@standard.net or at 801-625-4252. Follow her on Twitter@LorettaPark SE or like her on Facebook.