Signal Winter 2021 Newsletter

6 www.alliancecom.net Crafting Can Enhance Physical and Mental Health Relaxation Many people find crafting to be relaxing. It helps you get away from daily problems and focus on something fun. Engaging in an activity you enjoy helps you destress and even become physically healthier as you reduce your heart rate. Creativity When crafting, you not only get to take your mind off of anything that causes you stress, you also get to use your brain in a different way. When you do something creative, you train your mind to make new connections—a process that can help in other areas of life. Dexterity Crafting gives you the opportunity to improve and maintain motor skills as you draw, sew, paint, build, knit, and so on. Working with your hands also helps to develop eye-hand coordination. Sense of Achievement Some projects are easier than others, and it’s those tough ones that give you the most satisfaction. Figuring out how to get the result you’re after is a great problem-solving activity that can enhance your ability to stick with a process and see it through. Social Component Whether you get together with a group and sew, take a painting class, or simply discuss woodworking on social media, you’re involving other people. This social component of crafting can bring comfort and a sense of community. Maybe you began crafting just to keep your hands busy while you watch TV. No matter the reason, there are probably other advantages you’ve discovered along the way. Check out a few of the biggest benefits for crafters: Get Your Kids in on the Action Kids love crafts just as much as adults do. But they need supervision and age-appropriate projects to work on. Review these suggestions to keep both you and your kids happy while crafting: • Use a designated space. It doesn’t have to be an entire room— just an easy-to-clean area that can be used for crafting and storing craft supplies. • Keep it cost effective. Don’t go crazy with expensive paints, paper, glue, and glitter at first. Instead, see which crafts your kids are really interested in, then invest more as needed. • Display their creations. Use your judgment as to whether you want to have one area to keep kids’ crafts or display them throughout the house. • Let them lead. Kids are naturally cre- ative and often don’t need prompting to come up with a great crafting idea. • Make cleanup part of the process. Make sure kids know that cleaning up is part of crafting and show them how to do it most effectively. You may never again hear “I’m bored. There’s nothing to do.”