Kids love sensory experiences and getting hands-on, which is why crafty play is such a great thing to try with your grandchild.
Painting is a really simple and easy place to start. You can paint together inside or outside, at a table or on the floor. It's a great way to create memories.
Children have lots of natural creativity, so follow their lead and see where it takes you.
Watch the video below to find out why getting crafty is so good for your grandchild's language development.
Put your arms in there. And under this side? Well done!
What are you going to paint? What do you want to paint? What's it going to be?
A dinosaur.
Dinosaur? Wow.
Woah it's gone in the different water.
Oh different water!
Actually I want to use a different one.
What would you like. A different brush?
Yeah.Okay.
I'm going to use this one. Okay.
Where would you like the orange?
It's gonna be in one corner or? Oh, it's gonna be there, there, there and there. And then I mean there, on the side and then red is gonna be there. Ok and then yellow's gonna be there. And then blue's gonna be there. And then pink's going to be there.
Ok that's a lot for me to remember, shall I just do one at a time first?
Yeah.
You've done really well.
Shall we go and wash our hands now?
Yeah.
Come on then, let's go.
What are the benefits of painting with your grandchild?
- Leading the activity helps children gain confidence and express their ideas.
- Asking open questions as you paint helps them talk in longer sentences.
- Talking about the different colours and textures of the paint helps them build their vocabulary.
- Painting together encourages children to use their imagination.
- Planning what to paint and what colours to use, helps develop decision-making skills.
Find out more about the benefits of crafty play overall.
5 more crafty ideas to try with your grandchild
There are lots of different ways to get creative with young children. You don't need expensive art kits to get creative, just a couple of items lying around your house.
Check out these activities below if you're looking for some inspiration:
1. Painting with teabags
Try using cold tea bags to create a unique painting with your grandchild.
Cold tea bags make a great all-in-one paint and sponge. You can also use the leaves inside to add texture to your sensory play.
Find out more about painting with teabags.
2. Homemade playdough
You can make playdough in next to no time from everyday ingredients found in your kitchen cupboards.
Get your grandchild involved in the whole process and use all of their senses to help them pick up new words.
You can find the recipe for homemade playdough on this page.
3. Make a mini garden
Collect items from your garden or the park and make a mini garden… on a paper plate!
This is a really fun activity to encourage your child to explore their imagination and use descriptive language.
Watch our short video on making a mini garden.
4. Make your own telescope or binoculars
All you need to make a cardboard telescope is a clean cardboard tube.
If you fancy getting a bit more creative, why not try making a pair of binoculars instead?
Have a look out the window or get out and about and see what you and your grandchild can spot. You could also get creative by decorating your cardboard tubes.
5. Make a jigsaw puzzle
Help your grandchild cut up old cereal boxes or packaging into different-sized pieces to create your own unique puzzle.
Piecing the puzzle back together helps to improve their coordination and concentration skills.
Find out how to make your own jigsaw puzzle.
