In a fast-paced world dominated by technology, instant and automation, crafting is ever more important for adults and children alike. The simple yet therapeutic act of making something tangible with your hands, slowly exploring the creative process and engaging your mind, body and soul in creating something new has profound mental, physical and emotional benefits. No matter which materials you use, from paper to fabric to clay, crafting nourishes the soul and contributes to our wellbeing.
Let's explore the amazing advantages of getting creative.
Stress relief
Crafting acts as a natural stress reliever, offering a well-needed break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The rhythmic, repetitive motions used as you knit, knead, paint, sketch, stitch or felt are grounding and calming – inducing a state of relaxation. This causes cortisol levels to drop, reducing blood pressure and leaving you calm and centred. Crafting can even be a meditative activity where you allow yourself to fully let go of the day's demands.
For children, this moment to ground themselves in something tangible and real is so important. With the average child aged 8-11 spending 4.5 hours every day on a screen, offering children the opportunity to get their hands messy can help reduce this number. Curiosity and creativity go hand in hand, so try to make the time to bring out a box of colourful, textured supplies as often as possible to draw them away from their devices. Spending more time actively reducing stress levels in this way can help with emotional regulation and provide a space for kids to open up conversations.
Cognitive ability
Engaging in creative tasks stimulates the brain, enhances problem-solving skills and boosts cognitive function. Crafting requires planning, organisation, visualisation of the end result and adaptive, critical thinking skills. These activities help children productively use their imaginations, whilst also teaching them the value of patience and persistence.
The process of creating something meaningful takes time and effort, something that is often overlooked in today's society where anything you desire can be yours at the touch of a button. Crafting instils a sense of discipline that extends far beyond the craft table and will serve children for the rest of their lives in all aspects of their lives.
Fine-motor skills
Most crafting activities require a degree of hand-eye coordination, dexterity and preciseness. Whilst some take years to master, such as knitting, woodworking, or sculpting, even a toddler painting on paper is practising these skills. Using tools to produce artwork builds a child's fine motor skills and helps them become more accurate and understand how they can use their bodies to influence the world around them.
For toddlers, try letting them finger-paint or make handprints or footprints – not only is this super messy and fun, but it will also boost their spatial awareness. Older children will enjoy practising their fine motor skills by learning to hand sew, sketch or paint delicately.
Social connection
Crafting brings people together. Some days, I will catch myself mindlessly scrolling through my phone and realise I have one kid glued to the tablet, the other staring at the TV – and no one is truly present. In these moments, I not only feel a massive pang of mum guilt, but also disconnect. We all need downtime, and there's no shame in that – but getting creative together is a brilliant way to bring the whole family closer together.
Making something together, or individually, but around a table and sharing supplies provides the opportunity to connect, laugh and chat. Fostering social bonds is crucial to reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation, which is only becoming more common in children in the wake of the pandemic and the uprise of the digital age.
Embrace creativity
The myriad of benefits to be found when embracing creativity and crafting far exceed the final product. From stress relief to enhanced wellbeing, making something new is a holistic approach to a healthier, happier life. Whether you offer paintbrushes, a block of clay or a box of recycling for some super junk modelling, unlocking the power of creativity is sure to take you and your children on a journey of self-discovery, love and connection.