There are many crafts that are suitable for children, and they are good opportunities for you and your family to do something together. One such craft is beaded jewelry, and it can still be done with almost all ages.
Making beaded jewelry and decorations can be fun for all ages, and makes a great Saturday afternoon activity for the whole family. Beadwork doesn’t have to be kept out of reach of children at all times as long as you are there to help and supervise. To help beadwork projects for children go smoothly, follow these simple tips.
1. Read the pattern or project instructions beforehand to know what tools and supplies you will need. Then, if you don’t already have the supplies, take a trip to the store. If you can, take your children or family along so they can help.
2. Prepare the workspace. Set a sheet cloth out over the table or floor that will contrast the color of beads you will use. This will help see smaller beads if you drop them. Then set all of the supplies and tools (including the patterns) you will need on the cloth and leave enough space for working.
3. Keep beads organized. A fishing tackle box is what I use to keep all of my beads separated by color and type. They are very cheap and can be bought at any store carrying outdoor sports equipment. They prevent the headache of trying to find one bead in a thousand.
4. Pick easy projects to start. Use projects that are simple for everyone and create almost no headache. Here are two examples: Beaded Backpack Buddies and Double Strand Bracelet.
5. Set aside plenty of time. Be sure to set aside a few hours or even a whole afternoon for your projects, even if you don’t believe they should take more than an hour. This is intended to be a fun project for the whole family, so don’t be stressed by time constraints. Freeing up plenty of time allows you to completely enjoy this bonding experience.
6. Involve everyone in the clean up. When it’s time to clean up, get everyone to help gather the beads and put them in their proper places, gather up all of the supplies, and fold up the cloth. It will go by much more quickly this way. Then be sure to store the beads in a place your children can not get to without your permission if they are too young. If they are not too young, show them where the beads go and have them help you put them away.
Creating bead project and jewelry is fun and rewarding. This can be done to save money of holiday or birthday gifts and decorations, as well as give your children a sense of accomplishment. Children are often very proud of making things themselves, and will want to create more and more. As all of your skills start to increase, you can even move on to more difficult projects. Most importantly, have lots of fun with it while you can!
