If you’ve ever wondered whether educational arts and crafts can help your kids learn while they create, then this one’s for you. We’ve pulled together some of the most common questions about educational crafts to help you feel more confident about the why, how, and what of getting creative at home.
1. How are crafts educational?
Simple! Crafts don’t just entertain – they help kids explore concepts like colours, shapes, numbers, letters, problem-solving, and motor skills. The bonus? Your child is learning without even realising it.
Here are a couple of crafty ideas that pack in the learning:
1. Alphabet Animal Masks
Great for: letter recognition, animal knowledge, and fine motor skills
You’ll need: paper plates or cardstock, scissors, colouring materials, string or elastic
Steps:
- Pick a letter together (like B for butterfly or C for cat).
- Help your child draw and colour an animal mask that starts with that letter.
- Cut out eye holes and attach string so they can wear it!
- Say the letter sound together and practise pretending to be the animal.
2. Counting Caterpillars
Great for: counting, number sequencing, and cutting skills
You’ll need: coloured paper, scissors, glue, marker
Steps:
- Cut out several circles to create caterpillar body segments.
- Write numbers 1–10 on them (or higher if your child’s ready!).
- Get your child to glue them in order to make a long caterpillar.
- Finish it off with a drawn face and antennae.
2. What if I’m not crafty myself?
Totally fine – you don’t need to be! Educational crafts don’t have to be Pinterest-perfect. Most kids just want your time and encouragement. Simple materials like paper, glue, and pencils are more than enough to spark learning. You can even pop on one of our Mont Marte Create Space lessons and follow along together – no experience needed.
3. I’m not a teacher… how am I supposed to know about educational crafts?
If the activity encourages your child to think, problem-solve, recognise patterns, ask questions, or practise a skill – you’re on the money. Educational doesn’t mean complicated! A craft becomes “educational” when there’s a little learning intention tucked inside. Bonus points if your child doesn’t even realise they’re learning because they’re having so much fun.
4. What are some no-prep, easy educational crafts?
We’re glad you asked – here are three super-easy activities you can pull out on the fly, no fancy materials or planning needed:
1. Colour Swatch Drawing Game
Great for: colour recognition, drawing, and vocabulary
You’ll need: paper and coloured markers
Steps:
- Scribble down several colour swatches on a piece of paper (like red, yellow, green, blue).
- Ask your child to name the colour and draw a fruit or veggie that matches (e.g. banana for yellow).
- You can also turn this into a silly story: “A purple... potato flew through the sky!”
2. Shape Hunt Drawing
Great for: shape recognition, drawing practice, and counting
You’ll need: paper and a marker
Steps:
- Say a shape (like a triangle, square, or circle) and get your child to draw it on their paper.
- Once it’s drawn, send them off on a shape-hunting adventure around the house!
- Their mission? Spot and count how many real-life objects match the shape they drew.
- Come back together and talk about what they found – maybe even add drawings of the objects they spotted.
5. How do I balance fun and learning?
Start with fun, sprinkle in learning. If your child’s enjoying themselves, they’ll be more open to educational elements. For example, while painting, you can talk about mixing colours (hello, science!) or count how many dots they make with a sponge. Little learning moments like that make all the difference.
If you do get creating at home, #montmarteart or tag us @montmarteart on Instagram or Facebook. We’re excited to see what y’all create!
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