We believe grandparenting should be easy, fun and enjoyable for all. Both grandparents and their grandchildren should be able to enjoy and benefit from each other’s company, each looking forward to the next time they can share interesting, fun activities together.

We all know that in this day of modern technology; with TV, DVDs and electronic games etc that handcrafts have taken a back seat.

I think this is because there is no-one, except us, with time, patience and skills to share with our grandchildren the magic that enraptured us when we were young. Imagination is part of that magic kingdom of creativity that is used only passively in today’s modern entertainments.

We’ve trawled through the web to find hundreds of great ideas you can recycle and share with your grandchildren to create enjoyable craft projects, using recycled materials from your own home. As you work together, fashioning your own unique item, you will share more than just ideas and fun. You will share a sense of achievement and success.

I can’t think of a better, more pleasurable way to build strong self esteem in children as well as effective bonds of love and mutual respect between you and your grandchildren. At the same time you will inconspicuously lure them away from their “electronic babysitters”.

Children of all ages learn from “their tribe”. When they are very young, they learn from their parents and grandparents, then from uncles, aunts and cousins. Later their tribe becomes their class mates and friends, and your opportunity to spend time with and influence your young relations decreases markedly. As they grow older there is less chance that they will even consider your opinion unless you have built a strong, loving relationship in their early years.

Grandparents are people and like all people they need to feel useful and appreciated. By sharing craft activities and teaching grandchildren their skills they gain the fulfillment of being a useful and valued member of their family and of society. Their beloved grandchildren gain respect and admiration for their grandparents, new skills and a sense of achievement. A WIN – WIN situation, all around!

Your life experiences are important and have value. You have a lot to pass on to the younger generations and especially to your grandchildren. Now, when you have their interest is the time to impart your knowledge to them. They grow up so quickly – so it is important to use their early years, when they enjoy being with you, to build a lasting bond.

Clever Mums and Grandparents will always have easy, fun craft projects on hand for a rainy day. Keep a box of “goodies” to be recycled into fabulous craft creations. Almost everything can have a second, more interesting, life. Add a little ingenuity and know-how and lots of imagination from you and the children and you’ll see what treasures you can create together!

Nothing we do is a “must follow” recipe. Making a small change will increase a child’s ownership of the project and their feelings of being a “creator” of something unique.

Through the ages children have learnt craft (and many other) skills from parents and grandparents. For a while “home” crafts were considered to be important enough to be taught in school, but in this computer age, these time-honoured skills are no longer in vogue. Once again, if craft skills are to be learned, they must be taught by skilled adults in an informal setting.