Creating Argument-Free Family Crafting Sessions
This is a partnered post.
Arts and crafts sessions with your kids should be fun. This is your chance to show your children those crafts you love. And, it’s an opportunity for your youngsters to learn all about the joy of creating. Get this right, and you should find that those little feet crowd around you the moment you get that crafting box out of the cupboard.
The trouble is that, as with anything where siblings are concerned, child-on-child arguments can entirely undo the peace of craft sessions like these. Things can get so bad when left unchecked that you may find yourself avoiding creative activities altogether.
Instead of reaching a breaking point with family creativity, then, consider basic ways to avoid sibling rivalry when you do get art supplies out. Admittedly, this isn’t always an easy task. But, it is an eventuality you should be able to overcome by following steps like the ones we’re going to discuss here.
Keep things even
First, you need one of everything for each child, and you need them all to be precisely the same. Let’s face it; Harry is sure to fancy Sarah’s red pencil the moment she picks it up. Make sure that situation doesn’t escalate by purchasing an identical red pencil for him. If you buy a packet of papers for John, get the same one for Dave and Mary. You get the idea. Keeping things even is so vital that you might even want to invest in a die cutting machine which allows you to cut out identical shapes printed from the same input. There’s no way your kids can find a chance to argue when their stencils are literally mirrored images of each other. Whatever you do; never risk only having one of anything.
Don’t sit kids opposite each other
Sitting your children opposite each other is a rookie mistake. They’ll have no choice but to look at and compare what their sibling is doing. That can lead to arguments about mimicry and even jealousy. Instead, either sit your kids on the same side of the table or have them back to back. That way, there’s less temptation to peek and start a fight as a result.
Harness concentration
You can guarantee that arguments will begin the moment your kids lose concentration on what they’re doing. To avoid this, make sure to harness concentration on their makes. Intensive activities like knitting or stitch are always good for this as they require a certain level of attention. Equally, talking quietly to each child about what they’re doing can help to pull them back if they’re starting to pay more attention to their sibling’s creations.
There’s no denying that keeping battles at bay during a crafting hour can be tough. You certainly won’t feel relaxed after this the way you do when you craft alone. Over time, though, you should come to find that these efforts prevent bickering altogether. And, when they do, you can all get lost in the love of crafting at last.