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MarilynW
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I am writing my next term of school plans and trying to figure out how to get my boys more interested in crafts. My daughter is very arty/crafty - does not need me to organize her at all - always trying new things and creating things. My boys are a little craft challenged - my fault really - outside of the things we do together (eg for the Liturgical Year) I have not spent enough time encouraging them.
Any ideas of how to get my boys more interested in crafts?- I have checked out Mary G's sticky about easy crafts - and also the Crafty Crow - my dd has volunteered to hold a weekly craft activity with all the boys - this would be good for me - because if I am sick or behind with work, I do not make it a priority.
Thanks for any advice.
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Marilyn
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Dec 29 2008 at 4:12pm | IP Logged
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Build things.
Toothpicks and gumdrops (small ones) work very well - don't use marshmallows (guess how I know!).
Another cool combo is drinking straws (not bendy - I cut off the bendy parts) and a paper clip partially inserted at each end - then link the straw/clip combos together. You can build bridges, skyscrapers, etc.
Make clay igloos. Build pyramids from sugar cubes.
Clay items can also be painted - more art!
Boys like to build. Don't call it "crafts" and they'll sign right up!
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Mary K
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you could also use straws with pipe cleaners to build things. the straws could be cut to various lengths, fitted through the straws and the ends twisted around other pieces to attach together.
mary-ny
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Mary G
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See, I'm a firm believer that you tell boys that crafts are cool and they THINK crafts are cool! 
I've taught my boys to knit ... to cork (that endless length of cord that they just make and make) ... to sew.
One thing you can do is point out to the boys that originally the men were the ones who were the knitters, weavers and spinners. The guilds of the Middle Ages didn't let women in!
We just don't do separate crafts ... I make all the kids do the coloring, the sewing, the origami, the whatever ...
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JodieLyn
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And there are still places that some of those skills are highly regarded in men.. for instance..
Some of the more elite fire crews like to make their own gear.. and so someone who can sew is very highly regarded.
I don't think it's so much the skill being taught as the item that's being taught.. a boy may not get enthused about making the same things that the girls will. And that's what I would look at rather than necessarily doing different crafts.
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MarilynW
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| Posted: Dec 29 2008 at 6:27pm | IP Logged
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Thanks everyone for all the ideas.
Actually my boys love crafts when I organize them, I guess I am bemoaning the fact that they will not really do them on their own accord - eg my daughter will use her free time to make and bake and sew and create. But my guys will not come up with ideas by themselves - eg for Christmas presents - my dd had hundreds of ideas, my boys were stuck.
But I think it is maybe a "boy thing". I have taken out our origami books and supplies, Klutz paper airplanes kit and Sculpey clay and left them out on tables - maybe they will get inspired 
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Marilyn
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Marcia
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We have a work bench in our school room similiar to a Montessori classroom. I have a 4 year old boy who makes all sorts of wooden things. Many pieces of wood have pin holes drilled in them for nailing. There is a small hammer, a hand crank drill, various wood pieces, a vise, nails, screws and TWO sets of safety goggles kid sized.
This boy also knits (or does something with yarn) and we have also gotten into spinning wool with this little boy. He doesn't really care to make things with flowers, but bring out the wood- it's all his!
We've had "windows" made, (minus the glass of course), a baby bed for his little sister and other things less useful. wink wink.
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JennGM
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MarilynW wrote:
Thanks everyone for all the ideas.
Actually my boys love crafts when I organize them, I guess I am bemoaning the fact that they will not really do them on their own accord - eg my daughter will use her free time to make and bake and sew and create. But my guys will not come up with ideas by themselves - eg for Christmas presents - my dd had hundreds of ideas, my boys were stuck.
But I think it is maybe a "boy thing". I have taken out our origami books and supplies, Klutz paper airplanes kit and Sculpey clay and left them out on tables - maybe they will get inspired |
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My son loves crafts, but tangible ones, not just coloring. It has to be 2 or 3-d, I think. Destruction and messiness helps. Gluing, painting, cutting, hammering...but he also is enjoying learning crochet and knitting, too. That's taking a bit longer to learn.
But I agree with you, Marilyn, that it takes some guidance, and it's not as spontaneous as with girls. Your daughter sounds so much like I was at her age.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Dec 30 2008 at 9:34pm | IP Logged
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Since the topic of hammering with little kids came up.. I just wanted to toss out this idea.
A bit of playdough will hold a nail while it's hammered in.. protect the fingers 
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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Gloria JMJ
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Maralyn,
My first tries to avoid crafting, my second is the main reason I buy tape. He's making a model of the Hindinburg right now using my yardstick, bamboo skewers, Cheerio box cardboard, paper bags, and, of course, lots of tape. He's always preferred making things as opposed to bookwork.
Maybe a book about boyish crafts would help get the juices flowing, "Dangerous book for boys" comes to mind. My boys like learning about history and then building things like trebuchets or making slings, etc. The blog "Think"
has good ideas too, and they pose it as a weekly challenge (good for boys who tend to be comptitive)
I hope you find something that works, Gloria
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MaryM
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Thanks for that challenge blog link. I had seen some bloggers doing a couple challenges this fall but hadn't seen the main site with the challenges. It's very cool.
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mooreboyz
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2 more ideas for you:
give them a box of junk (egg cartons, candy boxes, paper rolls, pipe cleaners, etc.) some glue, a glue gun, stapler, etc. and tell them you are having an "creation contest". I did this with my boys every friday night last winter (they had all week to work on it) and they won a traveling trophy I made from a planters container with a light bulb glued to the top. They loved it!
Wire....they love this for some reason. There's some wire art books out there to give them ideas, but they can stay busy for an hour with wire. I guess it feels more manly or something.
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Donna Marie
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Does cardboard and duct tape constitute a craft?? If so my boys are VERY crafty!
The boys will TRY anything once...even sewing. Funny thing is, once they do anything, they feel like pros and want to try it again. The trick for me is getting them to start! The best things they did involved history (like the Egyptians, Knights, Vikings...etc) I save the messy stuff for Fridays...so they know this is the day that anything goes!
My boys are 13 and 9 (almost10)...the 5yo son will do ANYTHING...the 3month old just loves me and coos at me....oh! I digress (sorry I am in love   )
God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 8dc!!
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Donna Marie from NJ
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Finding Elegant Simplicity
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4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: Boys and crafts?
