One of Ethan’s favourite things to do at pre school was “Junk modelling”, I never saw the things he made but often heard about what an amazing activity it was for him to be involved in and how much he loved it. Since he broke up for the summer he has periodically asked if I would use the recycling to help him make a robot…I wanted to, but to be honest I really do not enjoy crafting with kids, especially my kids as they just go nuts and start doing silly things and it gets stressful or we end up with paint all up the walls, either way I may have been fobbing him off a bit with it (naughty mummy).
On Monday we had planned to go out but due to rain and feeling wrecked from the wedding weekend we just stayed in. First thing was cartoons on my bed whilst mummy caught up on blog stuff and then as I was preparing lunch I spotted the over flowing recycling bin in the corner and decided it was time to keep a promise despite my issues with crafting! Ethan was beyond excited and so very much loving it – he kept saying “are you sure we are really, actually going to do junk modelling mummy?” ahhhhh so sad!
Megan just went mad sticking everything to anything.
I managed to curb her freestyle creativity into something usable/playable and so we ended with a rabbit sanctuary/play centre for her animals and fairies. She calls it “the wabbit house fair-wee garden”:
and I was super impressed with the Robot that Ethan made (with a little help). He dragged daddy over to see it (as it sat drying) when he came home from work.
I actually really enjoyed this activity with my kids, it wasn’t anywhere near as stressful as usual crafts we have attempted and I think that was down to the fact of the freedom of making whatever instead of something specific that needs to look a certain way. I’m happy to not be a crafting mummy, its not one of my strengths as I do not have the patience or flow with it as some mothers do, but I don’t see it as a bad thing any more or something I should put myself down about, it’s just different. I do know however, that I am good at taking them out almost every day on an adventure and great at imaginative play and dancing like a nutter. I am good at taking them to museums/forest school settings to learn and craft there and now I can apparently add junk modelling connoisseur to the list of my mummy strengths too.
I really recommend you try it, its great to imagine what that pile of rubbish and tat will look like in a couple of hours and the kids enjoy playing with the results.
Do you like making things with your kids or hate it? What was the last thing you made together?
Crafting is most def not one of my strengths either. Both my two were epic junk modlers at nursery/school bringing literally hundreds of creations home on a weekly basis – I have to say not many (infact none) made it past the re-cyling bin (bad mummy!) Well done you – may be, just maybe I might along the glue and tissue paper out of the craft drawer this summer at some point
Mary, THANK YOU for this post! I can’t believe I have never thought of doing this before – we have SO MUCH JUNK in our house to work with! Brilliant. They made such cool stuff, I love it! Becky xx
hahaha Glad to inspire!!! Yes do it with the girls, they’ll love it! Can’t wait to see what they come up with x
Sounds like it worked well and you all actually enjoyed it. Less recycling also sounds fab! We always end up with tonnes in our house 🙂
#bestandworst
I did and it also took up a good chunk of the afternoon too, which is always a bonus x
Reblogged this on Life with mini me.
I’m really impressed!! I think both look awesome. I like crafting but think my daughter is a bit too young yet. Usually it ends up with glue everywhere with us too! haha. I reckon you will end up doing this a lot more now but at least an activity for a rainy day eh? Thanks for sharing with #bestandworst and see you soon xxx
Loving this M! and great pictures too! xx