Question
Q – “What are people’s thoughts on Christmas crafts? What benefits do children get from making a handprint card?”
Answers
A – “You may find this article interesting http://www.earlyyearscareers.com/…/why-hand-and…/ ”
A – “Do the people who write these types of articles even really work with the children, like the ones that write new policies, or other guidelines, probably not, just like to preach at us lot doing the job, my children like doing handprint pictures, in fact my group of seven year olds requested to do some again this year, and like others have said the little ones enjoy the sensory experience of doing them and the parents get a keepsake,”
A – “All of the early years careers staff have degree level qualifications in early years care and education and vast amounts of experience working in childcare and early years settings for many many years. We are a team who like to pride ourselves in our previous and current early years experiences and networking with other settings. This always influences what we discuss in articles and we like to explore all options and ethos’s held by those in the early years. It is down to early years practitioners to decide which approach they prefer and take.”
A – “Fair enough, well the children here express their creativity in many ways, and some times it includes, hands, feet, fingers, and often lots of pva spreading that nothing gets stuck to”
A – “That is fine children requesting to do this but many staff feel they must have perfect end results which does not always reflect what younger children are capable off or what they actually want to do, I do feel that a member of staff brushing paint onto a child’s hand to then be put onto a card or paper simply stifles a child’s inner creativity.”
A – “I understand it’s the process not the product, but I think handprints are nice especially for parents as a keep sake. Then looking at them for years to come.”
A – “This article explores the product vs process debate http://www.earlyyearscareers.com/…/end-product-little…/ ”
A – “they get the fine motor skills, making their own creation, making their own choices, pride in their work, following a simple instruction, using their senses to investigate the colours and feel of the brush, theyre learning that printed word has meaning when they write their card and making marks on paper. then theres the joy of giving the card to someone special”
A – “Sometimes it’s just nice to something that’s fun – not to ‘get something out of it’ We are too frightened to do fun now – everything has to be cross referenced And if a child doesn’t want to do a handprint – they don’t have too !!”
A – “I feel if you let the child paint their hand themselves then it’s okay and also maybe after they’ve done the handprint on the card give them another bit of paper and let them do as many hand prints as they want! Then they will get a better experience from it”
A – “As long as they normally have the opportunity to engage in open ended activities throughout the year, then I really don’t see the harm in a few handprints at Christmas to keep the parents happy.”
A – “Probably not a lot unless they enjoy handprinting generally. Children should be given the choice to complete the activity, but allowed the freedom to create their own masterpiece if they prefer to do something different”
A – “Sometimes it’s just a nice sentimental piece for parents! Why does every.single.little.thing have to have some benefit, Maybe the child would actually enjoy it!”
A – “Mostly our children like doing handprint cards because they love painting their hands and squidging the paint between their fingers. Those that don’t like to paint hands draw round them and colour, no child is ever made to do it”
A – “I think Christmas craft doesn’t just widen imagination but helps socially as it helps build up relationships with parents and well helping teaching the children understand the process of giving as well as receiving. It helps children to think about others and morals and respect. And how we can use our imagination and how our hands can be used to create so many different things.”
A – “As a parent I love the handprint cards, nice keep sake and I would be so happy if I got one home. As an early years officer your taught to say how it’s not about the end product and children should get to create it themselves and art shouldn’t work as a hey let me paint you and make this because it looks good. I would let the kids take the brush and paint their hand and let them have that experience, then ide help paint their hand and talk to the child “what does that feel like” laugh “does that tickle” etc.. print it on the card then let them paint on paper using their hands on their own”
A – “It’s a great activity for using descriptive language. It’s also an opportunity for using early counting skills. You can also talk about different sizes. The children really get the chance to take pride in their work. They love their finished product and the parents can’t wait to show them off”
A – “I feel these craft benefits a parent partnership as parents might not have the time to sit at home to make these keep sakes they may be more adult led but parents like to have these for years to come!”
A – “try to do a mixture. Usually placing a large piece of card down whatever materials or medium and letting the children explore different ways of using them and then draw and cut from what they have created. This way emphasis is on the process but when displayed they could can think ohh that’s my ‘reindeer’ and proudly show to their parents or discuss. This is usually for board displays and other crafts /art are child lead and about exploring the medium and may not even have a final outcome. Board displays are then put in a scrap book for the parents to keep.”
A – “Absolutely nothing wrong in making the cards as long as the EYFS is still followed and in the practitioners mind!! Ensuring it’s not forced and if the child doesn’t want to do a card then that’s fine. Make sure it’s child led and they can create the card how they wish , this way they are learning , having fun and a lovely card is created without the result being focused on too much!!”
A – “This year we have done done robin family finger prints, during this activity we have spoken about people of importance to them , for the older children they have drawn their own people. You’ve got to get an even balance of both that’s my way of thinking anyway! Deputy manger & mother to a two yr who’s art work”
A – “Covers the unique part of the eyfs. If u get the children that want to make handprints to look closely to see their own hand print has different lines to everyone else. Fun and messy. Obviously only if they want to do it!!!!”
A – “For little one (babies) there is no benefit, however it is customer service for parents/carers. It is all about the process of a task not the end product but most parents like to have a keep sake (I know I do). Im sure the children can squeeze in the occassional hand print whilst learning”
A – “I love the article that says – I was minding my own business when someone picks me up, paints my foot yellow, plonked me back down and that says look at your duck!! So true absolutely no value in hand or foot prints unless the children are old enough to choose to do this!!”
A – “They get the joy of making something to give to their parents at Christmas! And most of them like having their hands painted, obviously if they don’t then do something else”
A – “How about just for once we have fun!! The kids hav fun with no learning intention or next step with no link to eyfs how about for one month we go old school an just hav fun an play!!!!”
A – “It’s nice for the parents & a keepsake for future . So more for them really”
A – “We let them decorate their cards as they like, no clones, they can make as many as they like and we send them through the post to all and sundry, as long as the parents give us an address”
A – “Apparently everything children do these days they can’t do it unless they are learning something from it”
A – “Things don’t always need to have a benefit as long as the children are happy doing it”
A – “Its not about the end product its about the process they go through to get there”
A – “It’s definitely messy & absolute fun, mine are teens & I still have theirs. Sometimes just let them have messy & fun”