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MUM’S THE WORD 19
How often do you play with your child using arts and crafts toys or products?
What would encourage parents to play more arts and crafts with their children?
“Different characters and other arty things that appeal to children as they get a bit older, like Star Wars, wrestling and football but for boys aged five to seven.
More things that we can do together at the same time.” Jessica H(78)
“I think a lot of arts and craft items need to drop in price. Personally I would like to see more offers on arts and crafts, like buy-one-get-one-free, as I would buy so
much more if we could afford it.” Jen D(16)
Every month – 18%
Every day – 23% Every week – 54%
“Craft stuff that tidies itself up.” Norma Stanley Fletcher
“Not being at work. I don’t think I need encouragement, I love playing with Amelia, I love how each play session is different and I love seeing her
Would you like to spend more time playing with your child?
development.” Lauren C(126)
“Something new would encourage me to play arts and crafts more as we quite often do a lot of the same things.”
Samantha J(182)
What stops parents from playing with their children?
Yes 45% No 32%
Maybe 23%
clearly good at it and enjoyed it, while I concentrated on the activities I enjoyed: reading aloud, impersonating Robin Hood’s Merry Men and taking them for walks to look for dragons.”
PLAYING WITH ART So what kind of creative toys and products do parents and kids use? Netmums user Samantha J(182) says she regularly plays with Play-Doh with her kids, as well as messy painting, drawing and card-making. They also work on projects together to make bunting and junk cardboard models, and Samantha encourages them to take part in experiments like sinking and floating objects. Kellestar, meanwhile, organises a ‘Messy Monday’ each week with stickers and glittery Play-Doh.
Alison L(23) adds: “I have two boys who are five and three respectively, and I
do some sort of activity once a day, whether it be drawing, painting, creating something random with clay or Play-Doh, baking cakes, a trip outdoors or reading and writing.”
The word ‘messy’ came up more than a handful of times, with Netmums user Em C(4) saying crayons, paper and stickers are “always on the dining table”. The majority of parents we spoke to enjoy playing with their kids using arts and crafts products, and although not many have as much time as they’d like to, the bulk of respondents regularly play with their kids. A couple even mentioned the shortcomings of arty products (see ‘What would encourage parents to play more arts and crafts with their children?’), so there is still room for innovation and fresh ideas in the sector. Research based on 22 Mumsnet, Facebook and Netmums users’ responses.
“When we play together, I would do whatever he wants - whether it be cars, drawing, or whatever. So that’s what stops me from spending time doing arts and crafts with him. He’s into so many other toys that he’ll go from one to thing to the next. If his interest in it increased, I would spend more time doing it with him
and buying the sort of products that involves.” Kris Slaven
“Often it’s just being part of a working family that holds us back. I find myself thinking that they’ll have done arts and crafts at school or pre-school, and the
time could be spent doing other things.” Kelly King
“Sometimes playing arts and crafts together can be
messy, and it can take time clearing away.” Jessica H(78)
“There’s not enough time in the day.” Sarah O(167)
“The activity does not last very long and the preparation and clean-up can be cumbersome.” Mollydoggerson
“It is actually more that I have to make myself spend less time on arts and crafts with my daughter and balance
this with activities that I am not so confident in.” Kellestar
JULY 2012
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