January always feels like the longest month of the year to me. There's no big celebrations, no glitter, no anticipation of a wrapping paper frenzy. No big feasts to prepare for, or weeks off from school. Just long dreary days of bleak, cloudy skies and freezing temperatures.
To warm things up and make things exciting again we declare Friday night as our family fun night. In the past we have had family game night, family movie night, spa night and make your own pizza night. This year I am introducing a family craft night.
All during the holiday season we spend hours making things and crafting things as a way to spend time together. The fact that the holidays are over is no reason for us to stop making time to craft together.
Here are some crafty ideas for your next family craft night:
Select a craft everyone can do. Some easy choices are prefab foam craft kits that you simply peel and stick together, or you could go freestyle and let everyone paint what they want onto paper and host an art show after. Selecting photos from previous family vacations to create a scrapbook page doesn't require a lot of skill. Everyone can pitch in to make a special page and add to the book. Whatever you choose, make it easy for everyone in your family to create.
Select craft activities that mirror your child's interests. Have a child obsessed with slime? Why not make glow in the dark slime? Or glitter slime? Let them host their own slime lab and teach everyone in the family how to make their favorite slime recipe. Maybe they like to make things with duct tape, or up-cycled materials. Let your child take the lead and be the instructor for the night.
Select crafts that teach a skill. Crocheting, knitting, sewing and the like teach valuable skills like patience, math and encourage hand eye coordination. Bring back some old school projects like latch hook and embroidery. You can even have some fun crafting friendship bracelets for each member of the family. One day these skills may come in handy for your child! You do not need to finish in one night. Choose one project and dedicate a few Friday evenings to finishing.
Select a craft that you can share with the community. Paint peace rocks to leave around the community and inspire someone else, make handmade cards to send off to cancer patients, or create a flower arrangement to leave at a nursing home. There are plenty of simple ways your family can turn a craft night into a give back night.
Select a craft that you can decorate your home with. Gather the family together to create a unique work of art to hang in your home. Hand prints on canvas with a special family word makes a great addition anywhere in your home. A family photo collage, or family photos decoupaged onto wood pieces will look beautiful at the family dining area, or in a family room.
Put away the cell phones, turn up the music and sit together to create. No pressure for perfection, just enjoy the process and spend some time together. Make things as easy or as fancy as you'd like. Take advantage of the slower pace and the coziness of being home more this winter. I guarantee the memories you make will outlive the individual crafts you create together.
The Whatever Mom is a full-time wife and twin mama living on coffee and wine. She enjoys the pure rush of cleaning the BIG potty between loads of laundry. It is her dream that moms everywhere accept and embrace the Whatever Mom philosophy which can be found here. You can also find her musings and popular shares on Facebook and Twitter. Stay up to date with her creative ideas and outings on Pinterest.
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