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Crafting with your kids is a great way to help them express their creativity and improve their development, but it’s so much more than that. The benefits of crafting when trying to manage anxiety have been well documented, so if you’re worried about your children’s mental health, crafting is a great way to help them. Here are some of the best relaxing art activities for kids that they will love.
Knitting
Knitting is a productive craft that can save you a bit of money when the winter comes around if you knit your own scarves and hats instead of buying them. It’s also one of the best crafts when it comes to reducing anxiety. It requires a moderate amount of focus–but not too much–and it involves a very calming, repetitive motion. There is even research to suggest that knitting can be as relaxing as yoga for some people. It can help with dexterity in younger children as well.
Vinyl Transfers
Vinyl transfers are a fun way to bring old mirrors or wooden signs to life, and it’s the perfect craft to reduce anxiety. It’s quite a delicate and tricky craft to do, which is ideal when you are looking for some distraction because it requires absolute focus. When you’re trying to apply a delicate vinyl design to a surface, your mind will turn off all outside distractions and introduce a level of calm. Coming up with the designs themselves is also a wonderful creative outlet for your children to enjoy. You will need to invest in a bit of equipment, mainly a vinyl cutter (check out vinylcuttingmachineguide.com to help you pick the right one), but it’s worth it. There is a huge sense of achievement when you successfully apply a vinyl design perfectly, which can be good for managing anxiety levels as well.
Coloring Books
Adult coloring books have really taken off in the last couple of years. So many people are using them as a way to take a break from the stresses of modern life and to manage their anxiety. But they are just as useful for kids as they are for adults. They are the perfect way to remove excess stimulation and focus the mind on one relaxing activity. In addition, they have been proven to reduce stress levels. A standard child’s coloring book is okay, but if you really want to see the benefits, it’s best to buy specific mindfulness ones.
Weighted Blankets
Weighted blankets are a popular way of reducing anxiety, especially at night time when trying to sleep. The extra pressure helps to calm your nerves, making it easier to sleep (visit healthline.com to learn more). You can combine this with other crafts like knitting and crocheting by getting your kids to make their own weighted blankets that they can use when they go to sleep at night.
It’s important that you are aware of any problems with anxiety in your children so you can help them manage it before it becomes more serious. Crafts are a positive, low pressure way of doing that and helping them to explore their creativity at the same time.
Spending time in nature and working on nature-related art projects is another way for children to feel more relaxed. Check out these fun nature crafts for kids.
What are your family’s favorite relaxing art activities for kids?
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