Arts & Crafts: Building Bonds with My Kids

As a crafty person, I couldn't wait to introduce my children to the wonderful world of arts and crafts.

I started doing art with my first when she was 14 months old—I would tape colored paper to the coffee table (so she could easily reach it) and give her a couple of crayons in a paper cup to color with. I suspect she was more interested in putting the crayons back in the cup than actually coloring, but hey, it was a start! The joy was in the process, not the product.

One of the best ways to keep inspiration flowing is to look for craft ideas ahead of time. Pinterest has been a goldmine for finding simple, age-appropriate projects. Since younger children have short attention spans, I always make sure crafts are quick and engaging. Some of our early favorites included making paper crowns by gluing pieces together and decorating face masks with stickers. These were easy projects, but they gave my little one a sense of pride—especially when she got to wear them and admire herself in the mirror.

Beyond hands-on crafts, we also explored creative learning through stickers. My twin sister introduced me to a book series called Sticker Early Learning, which I later used with my oldest. By placing stickers in the right spots, she naturally picked up shapes, numbers, and colors—without it ever feeling like a lesson.

As my daughter grew, I started a craft group with a few of her friends. Once a month, we gather for a fun craft class, and it's been such a great way to combine creativity with social time. I found adorable, ready-to-go craft kits from Winlyn on Amazon that made it super easy—each kit comes individually packaged, so every child gets their own little set of materials. You can also browse great options at Michaels or Target. It's been a wonderful way to enjoy crafting together without the hassle of gathering tons of supplies.

The crafting fun didn't stop there. We recently started a KiwiCo subscription, and it's been a huge hit. I wanted something my husband could enjoy doing with our oldest, so we opted for the engineering-themed boxes. Even though they're designed for older kids, my 4-year-old gets so excited every time a new box arrives! So far, they've built a car sweeper, illusion glasses, a treasure box, and more. What we thought would be a one-time experiment has turned into nearly a year of fun—and an amazing bonding activity for the two of them.

Crafting isn't just about creating something beautiful—it's about making lasting memories, learning new skills, and spending quality time together. Whether it's simple crafts at home, a fun group project, or an engineering kit subscription, arts and crafts have been a wonderful way to connect with my kids and watch their creativity grow.