Crafting
Rainy-day crafts for kids 6 and up, by age
What a first grader enjoys can bore a tween, and a teen is ready for real art supplies. Rough ideas by age, plus the labels worth checking first.
By Spunky Craft Co.
Ages 6 to 8: cutting, gluing and lacing
Many kids in this range are ready for child-size scissors, more detailed coloring and projects with a few steps, like paper-plate masks, collage, air-dry clay shapes or lacing cards. Larger beads on a cord work well too, but keep beads and other small pieces away from younger siblings; pediatric guidance points out that older children often pass small objects to little ones. An adult should handle anything hot, such as a glue gun, and stay nearby for tools with an edge. Check each kit's recommended age rather than assuming it suits every child in the house.
Ages 9 to 12: real tools, longer projects
Older kids can often take on projects that last more than one afternoon: friendship bracelets, a first embroidery hoop, crochet with a chunky hook, fuse bead designs or a small painting on canvas. Kits written for this range usually have more steps and smaller parts, so read the recommended age on the box and keep the pieces stored where younger children cannot reach them. Stay close for anything with a blade, a hot iron or an oven step, such as fuse beads or polymer clay, and let them do the rest.
Teens: grown-up supplies with grown-up labels
Teens who stick with a craft are often ready to move from kits to the supplies adults use: artist-grade paints and brushes, alcohol markers, sketchbooks, yarn and needles, or a beading set with real pliers. In the US, art materials are required to state that they conform to ASTM D-4236, meaning the formula has been reviewed by a toxicologist and any required hazard warnings are printed on the product. That is not a promise that something suits children, so read those warnings together, work somewhere well ventilated when a label asks for it, and keep sharp tools put away after use.