Family craft night is best done the night before housecleaning, rather than the night after! Making a mess is just part of the fun. So, gather your supplies and put on your old clothes for some messy fun with the kids. The kitchen table is the perfect spot for crafting with kids, so take-out is definitely called for this evening.
Everyone will want to make their own creation, so find a cute project that is age-appropriate. You don't want to do the project for your child. That approach stifles your child's creativity, rather than nurturing it. Young children need a craft project that is quick, easy, and safe. Older kids will appreciate a project with a bit more complexity.
Some of our favorite ideas for family craft night are found online. Clay and dough projects provide the tactile satisfaction of rolling and shaping. An easy clay project for home is to make Clay Beads from Earlychildhood.com. Another easy art project for families with younger children is a Bean Mosaic from KinderArt.com.
If your child is old enough to be skilled with scissors, Silhouette Pictures from About Family Crafts are keepers. Buy frames for each picture before craft night; trace, cut, mat and frame for a finished art project.
Collage making is a project that comes out great even when you have crafters of different skill levels helping. Collect magazines, wallpaper books, and other paper scraps to decoupage a tray, pencil holder, trash can or other household item. Or, use a heavy piece of cardboard and then frame your finished family collage. Flip through the magazines to find pictures that express things your family members like, cut them out and glue them on, overlapping in collage fashion. Spray with an acrylic finishing spray.
Making paper airplanes is an active craft that you can play with afterward. Don't make a boring paper airplane. Check out Alex's creative paper airplane designs and try several for craft night.
Whatever craft you choose, remember that it is the creative process that is important, not the finished product. Encourage your child, don't criticize. Don't worry if it isn't perfectly done, just relax and get into being creative!
More Resources for Family Craft Night Projects