Confession: I don’t do crafts with my kids

2 May 2012 1,858 views 11 Comments

A few weeks ago, I was sitting around a table at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) where we had just heard a presentation about activities we can do with our children.

As we went around the table sharing ideas, our discussion group leader turned to me and said, “I’m anxious to hear what you do with your kids, Kelleigh!”

I had to confess, “Um. I don’t do crafts with my kids.”

I know that came as a HUGE shocker to the ladies around the table, especially since I have a crafty job and I have a room full of crafty supplies and because I’m a former teacher. But, seriously, I don’t lie awake in bed dreaming about the next educational art opportunity I can present to my children.

The reality is, my kids are massively imaginative and LOVE to cut and glue and draw and color and write books, despite my lack of prompting. They just do it. I can’t take any credit for it. I’m no super mom!

A part of me was a little embarrassed by my lack of motivation to provide stimulating, educational art activities, but then the other part of me said, “Be realistic, Kelleigh. It just isn’t gonna happen.”

And I’m okay with that. My kids are turning out just fine.

Do you do crafts with your kids? Tell me I’m not alone here!

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11 Comments »

Lisa said:

I will admit that even though I am uber crafty, and homeschool my kids, I DO NOT do crafts with them. The thought of it makes me sick. Why? It is my escape from children. It is like taking your kids on a spa retreat with you…. No guilt, my kids are turning out fine.

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Deborah Reply:
May 2nd, 2012 at 12:48 pm

Hear, hear!! I couldn’t have said it better!

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# 2 May 2012 at 8:35 am

Carolyn said:

No guilt here. I feel like I am doing well when I keep the craft table stocked with their needed supplies.
I am guessing you allowed many-a-mom to breathe a sigh-of-relief with your confession, both here and at your meeting.

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# 2 May 2012 at 8:42 am

Rachel B said:

I sometimes print and cut digital images for my kids to color, and then I will put them on a card for their grandparents, but that is about the extent to our crafting TOGETHER. My oldest (5 yrs) is really into cutting and coloring and gluing, but that is all HIM. I don’t offer to do it. I already have to clean up massive messes from my two little “monsters”… why would I offer to make a HUGE mess?!!

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# 2 May 2012 at 8:43 am

Tiffany said:

My son’s interest in arts and crafts is simply for ME make a new toy for HIM to play with. We have lots of paper toys! So I often make a quick little paper toy for him, and although I enjoy the little bit of creativity, it is not something we really do “together.” He just isn’t into coloring or painting. I decided a while ago to accept that, and I think it works for us.

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# 2 May 2012 at 9:15 am

Dianne said:

Me either. Well sometimes I do, but I don’t like schedule and plan. Just sometimes I say Hey let’s do this! I don’t think it’s a cop out at all. For example, I haven’t specifically taught a lot of science or art to my daughter. WHAT?!?! Why?!?! Because she loves it. She lives and breathes it. I don’t have to teach her art or tell her to do art because for her it’s a lifestyle. Now because she is so good I did end up enrolling her in a few classes but mostly just to round out her experience. She’s an amazing creative individual. Science? Well let’s call it interest-driven learning. She loves animals. At ten, she already knew more than I did about animals. That’s not a pony mom, it’s a …whatever else you can call a specific kind of horse lol. She knows all about animals and especially likes the ferocious kind. She reads/absorbs everything there is to know about animals. (We have also done a smattering of earth science and misc science over the years here and there.) Now for high school that will have to change - there are specific requirements and so forth. And she’ll probably also volunteer at a local rescue zoo. SO yeah. I don’t feel guilty about not purposely teaching either subject. I know that is a foreign concept to some moms. But not me.

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# 2 May 2012 at 9:35 am

Gina S said:

The thought of doing “crafts” with my kids makes me kinda ill as well. I am super crafty myself but the mess they would make would not be worth it. I give them stuff to do outside where they can’t ruin things. When they get gifts like play-doh…that goes straight in the camping box for them to take when we do that. NOT at home. I feel very guilty when I hear about other moms doing all these crafts with their kiddos, but I am just way too selfish to add more cleaning to my already busy day. I can barely keep up with the house mess as it is.

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# 2 May 2012 at 10:02 am

Rachel said:

You are not alone. My kids do tons of crafts/art at school, in Sunday School and on their own. Why do we buy into the guilt thrust upon us by other people??
I dont remember my mom doing crafts with me either, but my nana did. There are more people in our kids lives than just us. And we need to remember that when we live in community with other people (family and friends) that it is okay for our kids to have different learning opportunities from other sources. We do not need to be the “EVERYTHING” for our kids. I think our kids are happier, and more well-rounded for it!

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# 2 May 2012 at 10:40 am

Carol aka Mom said:

Kelleigh, as your mom…I was the “here’s the popsicle sticks and the glue..see what you can create for DADDY!!” You turned out ok. =) You make me laugh, you are fun and funny, creative and an awesome daughter/wife/mommy/professional. You provide lots of life experiences for your boys (as to the other mom’s who commented above) and the memories of camping together will far outweigh the craft memories. In fact, do you even remember your popsicle stick creations? (Yes, I am laughing.)

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# 2 May 2012 at 1:33 pm

Terri said:

I have always researched and presented crafts for Girls Scouts, but never for my kids. They are creative in their own ways, love watching me sew and do crafts, and ask to learn how when they were ready. I think that is the way it has always been throughout generations. I remember learning to knit and crochet from my Grandmother, to sew from my Mom, etc. I have picked up the ability to quilt, make jewelry, cards, paper crafts etc and so my children have huge options. It is in our family genes so to speak. I just don’t know if they really inherit the craft bug or if they imitate what they see.

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# 5 May 2012 at 7:30 am

Amber said:

I love you more for writing this! I am with you sister, I am just not like that! Wish I sometimes was - but like you said my kids are turning out just fine

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# 13 June 2012 at 11:34 pm