Feb 06 2008
Saying no to crafty clutter. I think.
I was thinking…What if we just said no to “crafts”?
What would it hurt of we just no longer did those cut and paste and hot-glue-together projects that are soooooo veeerrryyy integral to the homeschooling scene?
I don’t mean art and I don’t mean handicrafts, such as sewing, knitting and the like. Art is a valuable expressive outlet and provides beauty, and handicrafts (for example knitted hats, scarves, and even the dreaded potholders) are utilitarian.
I mean those craft projects of marginal educational value, whose sole purpose seems to be to keep stores like Michaels in business and whose sole function is to gather dust.
You know the type I am talking about: the popsicle stick Noah’s Ark, the fun-foam map of Vasco-De Gama’s second voyage , the tissue-paper tropical cloud forest, the papier mache Forbidden City (complete with terra-cotta Sculpey soldiers), or the (ahem) toilet paper roll totem poles.
Tell me, what would really happen if we just stopped doing them? Could we get away with it? Or would it create a rip in the fabric (felt, $ .20 a square in the Walmart craft isle) of the homeschool universe so broad that no amount of Stitch Witchery could repair it??
Let’s explore this, shall we? And let’s start by considering the pros and cons of going craft-free:
First the cons:
. ..Umm…
.
.
…wait a minute, I’m thinking…
.
Ok, I’ve got one: My kids will miss out on what small amount of educational value they would have gotten from doing said craft (for instance, a scale model of Mozart’s harpsichord made entirely out of, say, macaroni and “chenille stems“).
Another one: there will certainly be a lot less glitter in the toddler’s diet. Oh, wait, that’s a pro…
.
Michaels stock may take a nosedive?
.
.
More effort involved in planning lessons: with a “quick and easy craft idea” no longer an option I will be forced to plan thought-provoking lessons, and opportunities for creativity that are authentic expressions of the child’s understanding of the subject matter. (Ahem. You mean I’ll have to do my job? Well?)
I can’t think of any more.
So we’re moving on to the pros now:
Less clutter. That is a big pro. I will definitely have less visual clutter from not having to display these unwieldy creations on every available horizontal surface, plus several cleverly designed mobiles (read:coat hangers and fishing line) hanging from various light fixtures.
Less housework: don’t have to dust that shoebox “Battle of Little Bighorn” diorama (complete with authentic scalp-marks on cavalry skulls), nor the 1/87 scale model of “Pachycephalosaurus defending nest and offspring against marauding pack of Oviraptor.” Bonus: Think of the money I’ll save on Endust!
More storage space: since I will no longer have to keep an entire coat-closet full of last-minute craft supplies (aka: the entire stock from aisle three of Hobby Lobby) I might actually have room for…get this…coats!
Money savings: With my craft-supply-purchases reduced, I may be able to afford to take that trip to Hawaii. Ok, maybe Ft Lauderdale, but at least it will be somewhere sunny and warm…
Tanlines 
see above)
Fewer headaches: By no longer having to worry about keeping the baby from eating the papier mache paste, the pre-schooler from glue-sticking his hair to the cat, and the teenager from rolling his eyes as I say “C’mon, isn’t this origami Globe Theatre, complete with authentic Shakespearean period cast of Othello, just so cute! And there’s only 42 pages of instructions!” I will be saving myself some major headaches.
Bonus: think of all the money I’ll save on Tylenol!
More time: Without the enormous undertaking of gathering the materials, setting up the crafting area, guiding several wiggly scissor-impaired kids through the “easy-to-follow-step-by-step instructions,” cleaning up the crafting area, cleaning up the toddler and pre-schooler (see above), re-stocking craft supplies, surreptitiously re-doing pre-schooler’s project during naptime, and searching for a clear horizontal surface to store the things, I will have more time to do other things. Like take a nap, brush my teeth and shower. You know, those little, often overlooked things that brighten a busy mom’s day.
Bonus: I may be fit to go out in public again!
Less guilt: the small amount of guilt I will feel by NOT doing crafts with the children will be more than balanced out by not having to deal with the guilt from when I throw away said craft projects in the dead of night in the very bottom of the trash can underneath the dirty diapers and coffee ground where surely nobody will ever look and happen to notice them. Not that I know anything about that.
So. What do you think? I think the case for going craft-free is pretty strong. You might even say overwhelmingly so.
Aren’t these just so cute!!!! And perfect for Easter! And I think I have everything I need. I just need to run to Michaels for some pink craft paint and a red ultra-fine Sharpie, oh and I need to stop by the garden center for alfalfa seeds…
Very interesting, you mean no I’m going to have to toss all those empty containers I’ve been saving for just the right craft inspiration???
This is so true! This year I am teaching a craft class at our learning center, and I had been bound and determined to have the crafts be real and of value. We had a little success early on, making felt needle books, table runners, custom book covers, and magazine racks, but I quickly found that the majority of my class of 4-7graders didn’t have the basic skills to do the projects I had in mind.
I sent more kids to the nurse who had burned themselves with the hot glue gun, or stabbed themselves with scissors, or poked their fingers with the needle and thread.
I threw my hands up, and we are now back to chenille stem and tissue paper flowers! gag! I definitely won’t teach crafts again!
Oh this is incredibly funny! It is just so true! There is little value in all the crafts and yet if we dont do them we’re looked upon as less than good moms! Everyone knows that good moms have their kids do crafts every day! LOl
I can see how glitter and glue and all is fun for preschool but when the kids get in 4th and fifth grades there’s just not much value to it at all.
Hmmm … I wouldn’t know. I have the daughter who doesn’t actually do crafts with toilet paper roll tubes, she just collects them. The point at which I collapsed in despair was when her friend brought her an extra supply home from a holiday in Spain. Or no … perhaps the point of despair was when she filled in a getting-to-know-you sheet on her first day at school. Hobbies? Collecting toilet rolls! Nothing like making a good first impression.
LOL! As someone who just went to Michael’s today and spent–ahem–more than I intended because my children adore non-utilitarian, dust-collecting-just-for-the-fun-of-it-crafting (even when it ends up in the trash under diapers and coffee grounds), whether pre-planned or just free-for-all glitter and gluing, chenille stick twisting and sundry other activities, I say Hip-Hip-Hoorah! While they’re glittering and gluing my floor and walls, I enjoy a hot shower, an extra cup of whatever, and a few moments of a child-free brain. Small price to pay, eh? ~big smile~
LOL! I often think about this. Unfortunately, my jids love those stupid crafts, which is why we occasionally indulge.
I’ve been thinking about this myself. I really am not a crafty person when it comes to this stuff. I mean knitting, sewing, and painting I can get bhind. But all the little craft projects just annoy me and I’m nevr really sure what the purpose behind them is other than having proper cutting and gluing skills.
Great post! I’ve been feeling guilty about not doing more crafts with O, so this is exactly what I needed right now!
My head is with ya, but my heart says no. So do my kids.
This was such a funny blog. My girls and I are always making some kind of crafts around the holidays. No matter what holiday it may be, you will find us at the table, covered in glue and glitter and all the what-nots that go along with the craft for the month. After the month is up and the craft has to go in to the bottom of the garbage can, I always feel so guilty. Why oh why, do I let those glittery, gluey, crafts lure me into buying them?…well…”My name is Rhonda, and I’m a craft-a-holic” *giggles*
If I ever see another egg carton catepillar, it’ll be too soon.
***blushing****
I hate to admit it, but I love the little craft projects, and that grass egg project is beckoning to me!
One con you didn’t mention, but you probably don’t need, is that it’s nice to have stuff for family and friends to gawk at. It’s proof that you don’t sit on your butt all day doing nothing school-ish.
Although, like you, I find myself throwing them away when no one is looking….LOL!
We made some of these a couple years ago but they weren’t nearly as cute. Didn’t think about decorating them up! Thanks for the inspiration. I know what is going to be on the list for next week!
Gerky
You’re so right on… I can’t stand that stuff. Unfortunately, my MIL lives to supply us with anything and everything from Michael’s, Joann Fabrics, etc. I was just de-cluttering from her last visit when I happened upon your post! (This included lots of feathers stuck to various things, sequins all over, and several popsicle sticks. I’m not sure what the desired outcome was, but it wasn’t pretty!)
I am SO with you on this one. My kids don’t like “crafts”. Handicrafts yes but not crafts. I love to sew, knit, create but I really do despise pointless crafts. But that’s just me.
Well, as I type there are several battered styrofoam-ball Anansi the Spiders lying on the counter behind me. When will they have met their educational potential? Will they ever meet their educational potential?
I maintain that they were worth the fuss, these styrofoam spiders, if only to have overheard my oldest son exclaim: One of these spiders has eyes on his butt!
To which his sister rejoined: That’s an “alien” Anansi!
Since we gave up crafts when we moved to the boat we have the time to meet you in Fort Lauderdale to work on those tanlines.
11am Tuesday work for you?
The beach is beautiful right now…that’s Ft. L’s beach M and V are splashing around on here.
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/marihalojen/?xjMsgID=47115
Tempted yet?
Tempted? Are you kidding me???? You’re killing me, Jennifer! Here I am trying to steel myself for a move to Fairbanks (-44 last time I checked) and you’re taunting me with all that splashing in the waves. I better give up the crafting soon so I can afford to get down there before I head north to “no-tan’s-land”.
We as we are stuck indoors until the whether gets warmer and my girls (ages 6, 4 and 2.5) get better from the longest bout of sickness they’ve had (one thing after another for 8 weeks). My oldest has been begging me to save the recycling bits and bobs for her to create with. I have no problem with her deciding to create something out of them, but as I’m more science activity-minded rather than silly-pointless-craft-project-minded, I don’t really like to force the silly crafts . I did get a cool “make your own toy/game out of recycle-ables” craft book she can get some ideas from. Since she’s the one asking all the time to use the recycle-ables, I was feeling bad saying no all the time and squashing her creativity. So for now, I’m going to have to tolerate some amount of craft clutter (but stashed in a bin with a cover so I don’t have to look at it). Dd knows the creations will have a short life span (I take pictures and save the memory over the actual object d’art). Of course, she’s free to give them away as gifts (which helps me out and makes her feel good when grandma accepts them with a huge grandmotherly smile). Anyway, since I’m here replying to this, I wanted to say I love your website, I’ve been reading it a while. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hi-I have a pro for you. Hand eye coordination and fine motor development. I have a daughter who has visual issues. Without her glasses she sees at 20/1000. She wears her glasses but can see absolutely nothing outside of her lenses. She is also suppose to wear a patch everyday and has for the last year and a half. The patch goes over her stronger eye. Needless to say, it is difficult to have her work on her fine motot hand-eye coordination skills. These little crafts are an easy and inticing way for her to practice some of the skills that are difficult for her. In fact I make sure to give her one cut and paste craft each week so that she can practice independently on these skills.
I respect your opinion but think it is important to recognize that their is some value in them.
Thanks-
Jennifer
Jennifer. I respect your opinion, too. But I was talking about me, not you. Craft away, dear if it makes you happy.
Oh, I apologize for the slightly snarky tone of that last comment. Having a lousy day here. No excuse, just sorry.
Of course I welcome dissenting opinion here and I don’t want anyone to feel like they can’t respond with an alternate viewpoint without getting slammed.
Jenny, I hope you will forgive my rudeness.
Teresa
I have to admit, I am so with you on this one! Maybe I’m getting old and cranky, but I have a hard time spending time and money on something that serves no purpose and is going to end up (shhhh…) in the trash anyway. I’d much rather keep the kids busy with handicrafts, knitting etc. I do feel guilty sometimes, but I feel more guilty when I spend too much at Michael’s for a useless (but cute
craft project.
Thanks, great post!