Crafts for Kids - Gill Dickinson

Author's product rating:   

Degree of Information
How interesting was the book?
How useful was it?
Would you read it again?
Value for money

Advantages:	Full of great 'crafty' ideas for children of different ages .
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I got this book when it first came out in 2003 and I have to say it's great for those of us who have run out of new and interesting crafty activities to do with children.

~ What is it?~

This book has 55 craft projects, plus hundreds of variations for celebrations.

The book is 144 pages in total and is divided in to 8 areas:

• Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's Day
• Easter
• Halloween
• Thanksgiving and Harvest Festival
• Christmas
• Birthdays
• Carnivals
• Festivals around the world.

At the back of the book there is also a section with templates which is very handy for those of us who aren't great at drawing!

~ What kind of crafty activities? ~

I listed the areas / themes above but to give you more of an idea about some of the great craft activities that children can be involved in, I have added a few below as well as some photos which I think give you a much better idea of what is made:

• t-shirt card
• colourful flowers
• sweetheart photo frame
• Easter egg bunny
• flowery bonnet
• hanging chickens
• chocolate cornflake crunchies
• finger puppets
• wizard's hat
• giant insect
• bat biscuits
• festive trees
• feathered headband
• leaves and lanterns
• potato heads
• advent calendar
• rudolph reindeer
• rocking cards
• revolving letter card
• clown cakes
• hawaiian costume
• colourful bangles
• painted flags
• folding crocodile
• see-through crown

And many, many more...................

~ My experience ~

The book is very simple to use;

• Each craft activity has a double page spread.
• Colour photos are used to give you a better idea of what the finished article should actually look like.
• The appropriate age for each activity is given at the top of the page, which is great as you get a fair idea of which age group to use it with or you can modify it for younger or older children.
• The instructions are set out very clearly in numbered points and there are corresponding colour photos for each stage in the making process.
• There is a 'variations' section for each activity as well as a 'tip' section.
• At the left hand side of each double page there is a clear list of what you will need for the task.
• A 'time needed' section is also given although through experience I have found that this does vary from child to child, depending on age, ability and concentration levels.

I have used the majority of the activities given in this book over the last 3 years, granted, sometimes the area we have used when making the things never looks quite so pristine as that depicted in the photos but a lot of fun has been had!

~ Other books by Gill Dickinson ~

Gill Dickinson has written a wide range of books relating to arts and crafts for children, here are some of them:

• Gift Wrapping and Greeting Cards
• The Only Kid's Party Book You'll Ever Need
• Creative Gift Wrapping
• Mask Making: Get started in a new craft with easy-to-follow instructions
• Fancy Dress

~ Price ~

My hardcover ISBN: 0-600-61240-6 was £14.99 but cheaper paperbacks are available from amazon.co.uk