One of our partners, Health First Team have been delivering free online family arts and crafts sessions. Each week the participants engage in some creative exploration using a variety of materials, where they also develop skills and learn about new techniques. The activities have been designed to cater for younger children, however adults also take part and support the children with each step during the session.
Families look forward to attending each week as it allows them some quality time together where they can do something that is interactive and fun. With Covid-19 impacting on so many people in different ways it is evident that these sessions have proven to be a lifeline. They enable different families to connect and see each other and provides some structure in the week.
Over the past couple of months, the number of returning families proves that they experience the benefits of actively engaging in creative activities. Participating in arts and crafts helps with managing stress, improves mental wellbeing, boosts self-esteem and stimulates imagination. Although these are online activities, children especially are developing social skills through listening and speaking and they have also become a lot more confident in asking and answering questions.