Little kids are masters of the moment - when doing art or crafts they love the way it feels when they smear paint on paper, how it looks when they sprinkle glitter, and even the soft sound a brush makes as it crosses the page. They aren't self-conscious about what they're doing or focused on creating a finished product. Testing and the relentless focus on performance has seeped down to the earliest levels of education.
As kids get older they become more self conscious and as they go into the school system they become focused on results. This means that even when doing
arts and crafts the finished product become the focus and there is less focus on the creative aspect. Why does this matter?
Fostering creativity won't just increase your child's chances of becoming the next Picasso. You're also helping him develop mentally, socially, and emotionally. Creating art & crafts may also boost young children's ability to analyze and problem-solve as well. And there is no shortage of studies that demonstrate the benefits of play. Play aids the development of physical dexterity, teaches kids how to negotiate group dynamics, and, ultimately, helps them cultivate creative-thinking skills.
Creativity can be a great for solving thorny problems. When kids use their imaginations they find innovative resolutions and alternatives. Instead of putting things off or avoiding tasks, they can forge new pathways and try new, exciting 
approaches. This can apply to a simple household task and dreary chores to school or work tasks.
In our crafternoons or parties we don't worry too much about if they have used the right stitch or if their drawing is accurate. We want them to have a go, to figure it out as they go, to get ti wrong and learn from it.
So let them get mucky and make a mess - or even better let them get mucky and make a mess with us!!
Our Crafternoons for ages 5-12 start again on the 20th of April. Wednesdays 4-5pm. (Book here)