SAHM - When Did You Begin Arts and Crafts with Your Kids?

I did "sensory time" with my little guy before he could to a craft. It was just a way to introduce something new. Sometimes I let him play with pudding or whip cream, other times it was large button and beads, He played in dry oatmeal digging for toys and packing peanuts. I did ice, colored water, tossed in a few penguins and polar bears and let him have fun. Some weeks it was as simple as different types of paper (tin foil, tissue paper, klenex, colored paper) in a rubbermaid bin. Yes it was messy but I think it was his favorite activity all week :)
If you google search sensory table fillers you'll get lots of ideas.
Have fun!

At 7 months, free play with toys is how he learns and what he should be doing. Now, I was not a SAHM and maybe they do things differently, but I started art things at about 1 1/2 years. I think starting before the child is able to do any of the "project" independently is too young.

umm...can i answer even though i'm not a sahm? imho, i think it's you that is bored, not him. if he's happy, he's happy. just my working-mom opinion! :)

I too would wait for crafts until 2-3. He's not bored. It sounds like he gets lots of stimulation and various activities. See if you can join a play group or music class or something like that. A lot of community centers do a drop in play time to play with balls, hula hoops, etc. I think when he starts crawling that might be an excellent resource!

From about 1 year old. 2 is better.

A 7 month old, cannot do crafts.

Babies this age do not get bored.
Don't worry.

Just let him play by himself too... this is learning. It is exploring. Babies, need that, too. How to be, self exploring.
They learn that way, and by doing things on their own, just exploring.
Even a bath, at this age, is an "activity."

Being over-stimulated also, gets a baby real tired, and hinders being able to sleep well.

Babies get tired fast, and over-stimulated fast.

If he seems 'bored', he may actually be tired.

Honestly, to me it sounds like you are doing everything just right! With regards to the baby, that is.

But MOM needs some adult stimulation too, some of us need it every day! Are you doing anything at all for yourself on a daily basis, with or without the baby?

:)

with my daycare kids I do simple finger painting as young as 11 mos old but you have to watch VERY closely to make sure they don't eat the paint. I will also give them markers, crayons and pencil/pen at about that age too, again closely watched. A few times a week maybe.

By 20 mos old they are doing all sorts of crafts

It sounds like you are doing a great job already, I started crafts at about 1 with my daughter, she wasn't really into it and kinda watched what i did and "helped" (destroyed) paint, glue, color whatever it was, but it was fun and good to get her used to supplies. Apart from what you are doing, start to get into a weekly routine at the library for story hours. I started with my daughter every week since she was 6 weeks old (they have graduated ages levels at the naperville library system and probably yours too). She looks forward to the visit every week- not just for the story time, but for the puzzles and toys at the library, "playing" with the ohter kids, and she has found her favorite books too--oh and it's free:) and the benefits are huge- she's spelling things already! Other than that, see what programs your park district has to offer, again in naperville there are lots and lots of infant/parent classes in music, movement, yoga, etc. The arboretum is also excellent for him to see other kids in action, get out of the house for a bit.

Playing and talking are the best things for your son. What you are doing is the best for him. If you want to do something different take the cushions off your sofa and let him crawl under and around and over them. I was a professional nanny and at seven months play is the most important thing you can be doing with your son. I know it can be boring for mommies, but you need to find ways to include him in your fun. Turn on your favorite song/radio staion and dance around with him watching you or you holding him. When you are cooking give him some plastic bowl and some baby spoons to play with. Don't know if you have ever heard of Totline, but they have a series that starts with A Year of Fun Just for Babies, (then it goes on a year of fun for one, two, three). It breaks down the year in months so for May, it will have song and ryhmes and different activities for you do with your son. Amazon has it and it is only $5.99 they are short around 30 pages, but lots of fun. Your local library may have them or they can search for you to search if they can get it on loan for you too, so you can look at it. Library may also have a baby lap time. Also check with your local public schools to see if they have a free program for babies. We did that here(I live south of you), they started as young as six weeks old to group classes to Pre-K, and you get to go and be with other moms. Another way is to see if there is a playgroup by you so you can meet with other moms once or twice a month. Even is the children are older or younger than your son, it will be good for him and you too. Seven months old is not to young to start taking him on outings to the zoo or museums. You could go to the childrens musuem in glencoe or the dupage children museum.

I don't think a 7 month old knows how to be bored. It doesn't matter if they do the same thing everyday, they somehow experience something new. I too was a sahm and I did get bored, which then made me feel bad, like I wasn't doing enough for my daughter. But as long as you show them love and they will feel secure and that at this age is really all they want. As they get older and can articulate things, you will realize how everyday to them at this young age is new and exciting....

It sounds like your son's schedule is as active as it should be. He is learning all the time--playing, stroller rides, sitting in the kitchen is all a form of stimulation for him. While it's nice to introduce new activities and new people, be careful to keep a routine for him. Babies need routine and downtime as well as stimulation. But if you are interested in crafts for all ages, I had a book when my oldest was a baby. I think the author was Barbara Rowland, although that could be wrong! It had ideas for using everyday items to play with. Good luck, and let's hope the weather lets us out more, soon!

Oh my goodness, it sounds like you are doing fine! Don't beat yourself up! At 7 months old, playing with him with his toys, reading to him, looking at those Bright Baby first 100 word books etc..., letting him play on his own too and discover things, the walks...all of that is perfect stimulation for him. Just talk to him a lot, tell him about what you're doing, point things out to him, sing to him. I am not big on doing arts and crafts with young babies. My babies all love to put anything and everything in their mouths. Toddler age is best to start that stuff in my opinion. Relax and enjoy your little one! You're doing great!

It actually sounds like you are doing a GREAT job of being a stay at home mom. Yes, our lives really are that repetitive and sometimes boring ;) Arts and crafts are just not part of your day until your child is a toddler - even then, it usually has to be something edible like painting with pudding or making edible playdoh! At seven months your son is learning tremendous amounts about his world by watching you do dishes, listening to you talk on the phone with your mom, or tasting an avacado for the first time. All this learning can be exhausting, so although you think you're not doing much, he really is being stimulated and worn out during the day. Check if your local library has a baby lap sit time, or do a Gymboree class or something like it once a week - getting out of the house can re-energize mom, and wear baby out :)

I started finger paints and watercolor projects with my kids when they were about 6 months old. I really enjoyed doing tons of projects with them and letting them learn different textures etc. You could experiment with different textures and see how he does. Good luck!

M

Sounds like a pretty full day! What about library storytimes? or maybe a mom's group through church or MOPS where he can interact with other kids? Arts and crafts are hard at this age cause alot goes in the mouth- maybe fingerpainting with pudding?

We did arts and crafts around age 1 - 1 1/2.

Sounds like you two could really use a Mom and Tot playgroup so you can start socializing him with other kids.

Also, swim lessons are fun. They learn to kick, sing, blow bubbles, etc.

I love our local Y and church groups. Free/low cost fun and a nice way to meet other like minded people.

If you check out your local Barnes and Noble they even offer free story times. And in the summer the Regal Theatres offers free movies to moms with little kids to get out, escape the heat and not feel bad if their kids fuss or run around.

Msg me if you like. I have tons of ideas in our areas.

I remember feeling that way when my daughter was that age. I created a little schedule for us to follow each day in 15 or 20 minute chunks - 20 minutes of books, 20 minutes of "building" (blocks or toilet paper rolls), 20 minutes of "crafts" (finger painting is a good one at this age), 20 minutes of playing with textures (fabrics or crinkling foil or playing with pieces of furry stuff or playdoh). Good luck!

I think kids have way too much structure and stimulation these days. It's good for your son to be bored sometimes because boredom helps kids use their imagination. Also it's good for kids to learn how to play on their own. If he always relies on you to play, have fun, not be bored than he'll never be able to play on his own. Sounds like you're doing a lot with him (reading and singing songs is great at this age). At that age I signed my daughter up for a FREE babies, books and songs class offered at the library, you can look into that. Taking walks is also great or play dates with other babies. I think you're doing good overall.

It all depends on the child. My son started crafting around 2 and my daughter at around 1. My daughter LOVES coloring and goes at it all day whereas my son would rather beat stuff up!

Hi there,

It sounds like you're doing a great job. Being a SAHM is challenging and just getting in a walk everyday is good.

If I remember correctly, kids can first start to color w/ crayons around 15-18 months. So I think your baby is a bit young for arts and crafts.

There are plenty of classes out there for moms and babies if you can afford one (and find one near by). Check out your local park district, library, and book store for free or less expensive options. You can also look into places like Gymboree or The Little Gym/My Gym, and there are often music or swim classes for babies and their parents, too. Check out your local YMCA or community center, too.

I think if you spend time actively engaging your child every day, get out of the house, etc., then you're great at being a SAHM. I know I found it challenging just to leave the house in winter when my daughter was a baby.

Best of luck and keep up the good work!
R.