Art and craft  are very important. One of the reason is that art helps children discover the joy of creating.  Art is a form of communication, it is another way of expressing themselves and their emotions.

Our holiday program includes the Art and craft activities as it  allows children, play to learn. It also helps children develop their own ideas, opinions, creative and imaginative skills.

Art and craft engages children in a process that helps in the development of self-esteem, self-discipline, cooperation, self-motivation and unleash their creative potentials. Children learn important life skills without realising it! 

Participating in art activities provides opportunities for children to develop creative problem-solving skills. Learn to  communicate their  thoughts and ideas in a variety of ways. Art and craft projects  are among the children's favourite camp activities.

One morning we took children for a nature walk to our neighbouring 'farm.' Children were given the  assignment to draw what they had seen. We noticed the children were very observant.

Along the way, they studied the flowers, trees, plants,  butterflies and birds. We spent about thirty minutes at the small 'farm' where there were many kinds of fruit trees, cats and kittens, hens and chickens and a very small fish pond. The children explored the surrounding environment with great enthusiasm.

Back to school the teachers encouraged them to draw according to their interests. They were all very creative and drew  flowers, butterflies, bees, birds, people etc.

Some of them coloured their drawings with crayons, colour pencils and others painted them. You can imagine all the creative 'masterpiece' we received from them. The teachers praised them and pinned their drawings up.

I have observed children who are usualy shy or reserved would start mixing around during the  art and science projects. The Art and craft activities provide social interactions - children working and interacting in their small groups.

T. shirt painting is another fun activities for children. We use fabric dye which is safe and  non toxic for the art and science projects. The older children, drew and paint their own creations (free expressions ) 

The younger children  did finger and potato painting and printing on their T.shirts. They all  loved their finished creations so much that they frequently wore their T.shirts to the camp.

Have  you notice that when children are involved in a specific task at hand, such as drawing or craft work, they would ignore any distractions?

I  believe art and craft activities keep children focus on the works. It help them to improve concentrations, self expression, fine motor skills and help reduce stress.

At the holiday camp the art and craft activities and discovery science are integrated. For example the making  of kites, the mini volcano, paper cups telephone, the windmills, dough boats, moulding playdough to make figures, lettering, shapes etc, vegetable and fruit printing, paper aeroplane, paper boats, cardboard rockets, balloon craft,  candle and soap making, and many others.

Besides painting T.shirts we also experimented with batik painting, banners, posters... Art and craft activities provide endless fun for children as well as teachers.

Look out for our next holiday camp activities, we have many creative ideas that we want to share,  most importantly we want children to have FUN!

Happy Parenting

Contact: 603-41054382 N0. 11 Jalan H1, Taman Melawati,   53100 Kuala Lumpur