The points to be borne in mind in children's handicrafts are: (a) that they should not be employed in making futilities such as pea and stick work, paper mats, and the like; (b) that they should be taught slowly and carefully what they are to do; (c) that slipshod work should not be allowed; (d) and that, therefore, the children's work should be kept well within their compass."
Being that I am not the most craft oriented mom, this particular philosophy of Miss Masons perfectly meshes into how I see our homeschool! The only person I can draw is a stick figure... and I am not kidding! I have never been artisitcally inclined. Lightness aside, I tend to agree with the statement. How many of us brought home hundreds of useless crafts that our own moms felt obligated to gush over and save forever? I see mom friends posting their own kids arts and crafts activities on facebook.... and I think "what was the point of THAT craft"? What does making a horse out of a wrapping paper roll teach them? Why not go and pet live horses or watch a documentary on them if you live in the City? THAT would teach them far more about horses and waste far less of their time. Unless gluing will be important when they are 20! <grin>. I have a friend who homeschools and her co-op did a FANTATIC activity of Pre-Ker's rebuilding the Great Wall of China. They had fun AND they learned something in the process. A worthwhile activity, in my opinion. The Early Years are so importnant. Why fill their heads with nonsense?
Yesterday, we worked on jewelry making. The Bug and The Cat made their grandma bracelets for her birthday. This helped with motor skills, patterns, sorting, sequencing, and colors in addition to learning a skill they can use throughout life and also reinforced an essential habit of giving to others. THAT is a craft worth doing. And Grandma was also pretty darned happy to get those bracelets.
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