| Preschool crafts are an essential part of any | | | | same time, keeping everyone on track and making the |
| preschool lesson. Without crafts, young students will | | | | craft look uniform. |
| lose interest, not be able to fully understand and | | | | If a teacher chooses a particularly difficult craft project |
| appreciate the lesson, and will miss out on important | | | | or one with many steps, they should practice the craft |
| social time to make friends. Preschool crafts must be | | | | before bringing it to class. This includes not only |
| easy to complete, safe for children, and tie into a | | | | completing the craft but practicing what to say when |
| lesson or theme. | | | | so that students understand the task. Providing clear |
| Easy Does It | | | | instructions sometimes requires outside practice, but it |
| Above all, preschool crafts for kids must be easy to | | | | will save the class time and much frustration if the |
| complete. Young students do not have the attention | | | | teacher knows how to explain what he or she wants. |
| span for long craft projects or ones that do not show | | | | Play it Safe |
| immediate results. For this reason, multiple-day craft | | | | Above all, preschool crafts must be safe for the |
| projects should be reserved for special occasions or | | | | students involved. Some craft projects include small |
| be used in conjunction with shorter, more concise craft | | | | objects, such as sequins, feathers, or buttons. It is up to |
| activities. | | | | the teacher to determine the maturity level of their |
| Besides being short, crafts need to be easy to set up | | | | students and decide if the students can be trusted to |
| and take down. Because there is usually only one or | | | | use materials appropriately. |
| two teachers for a preschool class, there is not | | | | If there is a question about the safety of part of |
| enough time for a lengthy setup process. Easy craft | | | | preschool crafts but it is essential to the project, |
| activities are those with few materials, little preparation | | | | teachers can separate that step and enlist an adult |
| time (i.e. not much cutting, organizing, or arranging | | | | volunteer to oversee that portion of the activity. For |
| beforehand), and simple instructions. | | | | instance, if anything needs to be hot-glued in place, an |
| Step by Step | | | | adult should be in charge of the gluing. Students should |
| Preschool craft projects must be able to break down | | | | only receive their crafts back when the glue has |
| into steps. When preschool teachers create their own | | | | cooled sufficiently to prevent burning. |
| lessons or pull from another resource, they must take | | | | If possible, teachers should choose preschool crafts |
| into account how they are going to explain the craft to | | | | that do not put students even questionably in danger. |
| their students. Teachers must be able to tell students | | | | Materials should always be non-toxic and washable, as |
| what to do in one or two sentences for each step. | | | | young students are often messy. Small or dangerous |
| By breaking things down into steps, students can stay | | | | objects, such as scissors, should be supervised by a |
| more focused, and teachers ensure that all students | | | | responsible adult to prevent accidents. |
| are working on the same part of the craft at the | | | | |