Hey there, crafters! Today, I want to share with you an amazing experience I had recently while leading a needle felting landscape workshop. Although I am a Mum of one of the cub scouts, I was there as The Prolific Crafter sharing my love of crafting and getting others hooked. So, when the opportunity arose to teach a workshop for a group of children and cub leaders, I jumped at the chance!
The workshop was centred around creating a piece of art representative landscapes and the countryside using needle felting techniques. For those who don’t know, needle felting is a process of tangling and compressing wool fibres together using a special needle to create a felted object. It’s a super fun and tactile art form that’s easy for kids to learn and create with.
The children were all so enthusiastic and eager to learn, and it was amazing to see their creativity come to life. Some created rolling hills dotted with sheep, while others made fields and trees with little animals living in them. And even the cub leaders got in on the action, creating their own unique pictures.
But aside from just having fun and creating something beautiful, art and self-expression are incredibly beneficial for children, especially those aged 8 to 10, where at such a crucial age they are learning how to express their own minds. It allows them to explore their imaginations and emotions in a safe and constructive way, it also gives them a sense of accomplishment and pride in their creations. Art can also help build confidence and improve fine motor skills, as well as teach children problem-solving and decision-making skills.
In a world where children are constantly bombarded with technology and screens, it’s important to give them opportunities to disconnect and engage in hands-on, creative activities. And as someone who loves to craft, it’s such a joy to be able to share that passion with kids and see them discover the joy of creating something with their own two hands.
So, whether it’s needle felting, painting, drawing, or any other art form, I encourage you to get creative with the kids in your life. Not only will you be fostering their creativity and self-expression (and yours), but you’ll also be creating memories that will last a lifetime.
As a child, I was always into DIY projects with textiles. Whether it was making friendship bracelets or jazzing up my clothes with some upcycling, I loved getting my hands on some scissors and experimenting with different materials. Looking back, I’m grateful for the freedom I had to explore my creativity at such a young age, even if it did sometimes cause a bit of trouble with my parents. So, I’m curious – what was your go-to craft or artform when you were growing up?
Happy crafting!