Arts and Crafts and the importance of creative development

Helping children to achieve their creative potential

All children love to create art and make things. In younger children playing with arts and crafts inspires creativity while helping them to focus their mind and complete a set task while older children can begin to gain an understanding of artistic and design skills that may affect their future educational choices.  

An art or craft based gift will always be appreciated whatever the age from the charming Mouse House Sewing Kit and My Crafty Kit to the science based craft Stunt Buggy Kit. There is a large choice of art and crafts kits at Up to the Moon from the Theatre in a Box with Peg Doll Kits to the Giant Paper Flowers kit where the finished result can be used as room decoration.

Child psychologists, doctors and teachers realise the importance of using creative skills to stimulate children's minds and give them a fanastic opportunity to express themselves in their own unique way.  They are given the opportunity to work with colour and form and with different materials to create their own piece of artwork giving them a sense of achievement and also giving them the opportunity of appreciating other friends' artwork.

When it's a rainy day, rather than your child watching TV, encourage them to work on a craft project. It is a great opportunity to sit down to help them giving you both essential adult/child time together and the end result can be proudly displayed on the fridge or a shelf. Take a look at our jewellery kits, they are wonderful for giving ideas for a range of jewellery that can be worn or given as gifts.

A great product for adult/child one on one time are our Woodwork Kits for older children (ages 8+) where useful wooden objects can be crafted such as the Birdhouse or Toolbox using the tools specifically designed for the young carpenter. The tool belt is a must - my own daughter used her daddy's tool belt (pulled tight) and loved it!

A number of websites have been created that are great for creative ideas and finding out about art and craft techniques:

Arts & Crafts for Kids  A wealth of information on techniques and advice.  This also has advice on creativity for special needs children.

Net Mums  An authority on so many aspects of caring for and educating children

Tate Kids  From the famous Art Gallery a website that teaches children about art and artists in a fun and motivational way

ichild  Dedicated to supporting children's education and development

Activity Village  A wonderful resource for activities and projects

As designers ourselves we understand the importance of creativity and inspiring children to develop a love for the subject.  Later in school life there are many creative options that can be continued as qualifications or even as a career but this all starts from the positive experiences we have when we are young children.