Craft Lab for Kids: 52 DIY Projects to Inspire, Excite, and Empower Kids to Create Useful, Beautiful Handmade Goods (Volume 25) (Lab for Kids, 25)
#25 of 32 in Lab For Kids Series
on Goodreads (50)
What’s inside...
Craft Lab for Kids is a comprehensive guide that includes 52 fun and customizable craft activities for children. The book is part of the popular Lab for Kids series and encourages children to express themselves through a variety of crafts, such as personalizing items, self-care DIY projects, quick crafts, and kindness crafts. Each activity includes a complete materials list, clear step-by-step photographs, and finished samples, making it suitable for a range of ages and skill levels. The labs are designed to be open-ended, allowing for exploration and different results each time, and are ideal for a yearlong curriculum of experiential learning guided by adults. The series features a growing list of books that share hands-on activities and projects on wide topics, including art, astronomy, and more, all authored by experts. Each lab includes step-by-step photographs and materials, and the activities are enriching for a range of ages and skill levels, aimed to be explored over and over with different results.
Discussion points
What was your favorite project in the book and why did it stand out to you?
How do you think creating something by hand can help people or make them feel?
Can you think of your own project that you would like to add to the book? What would it be and why?
How do you feel when you complete a project, and what have you learned from making it?
Which tools or materials would you like to explore more and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their creativity by asking them to describe a project they might invent.
Discuss the value of handmade items and how they can be meaningful gifts for friends and family.
After completing a project, have a showcase moment where your child can present their work and explain the process.
Support your child’s project ideas by discussing the steps they would take to turn their idea into reality, from planning to final touches.
Celebrate mistakes as learning opportunities and discuss what can be done differently next time to enhance their skills.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Creativity and Self-expression
Explanation: Through 52 DIY projects, children are encouraged to express their unique artistic visions and ideas.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this skill by undertaking creative projects at school or as hobbies, enhancing their ability to think innovatively and solve problems creatively.
Example Lesson: Persistence and Resilience
Explanation: Completing the projects teaches children to follow through with tasks and overcome challenges they encounter during the creation process.
Real-World Application: This ability to persist can be applied in their academic studies and personal pursuits, helping them to continuously strive towards their goals despite obstacles.
Example Lesson: Responsibility and Organization
Explanation: Managing and finishing a project from start to end helps children learn to organize their time and materials effectively.
Real-World Application: These organizational skills are essential in everyday life, aiding them in managing school assignments, household chores, and their personal schedules.
Example Lesson: Appreciation for Handmade Goods
Explanation: Creating projects by hand instills a sense of pride and appreciation for the effort behind handmade items.
Real-World Application: Children learn to value handmade goods, potentially choosing crafted items over mass-produced goods, which can foster a broader understanding of quality and sustainability.