tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26221967.post100539508735551504..comments2023-10-04T02:23:54.100+11:00Comments on emzeegee and the hungry three: A Mom's Gotta Do What a Mom's Gotta Doemzeegee & the hungry threehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05157103839748631293noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26221967.post-71170573935937320402008-06-19T15:09:00.000+10:002008-06-19T15:09:00.000+10:00Hi Em,It may surprise you to hear that I also loat...Hi Em,<BR/>It may surprise you to hear that I also loathe most "crafty"gifts for kids. I am well known as someone that loves a handmade object, and so lots of people give my kids these presents.<BR/><BR/>It is actually hard for the purchaser to tell, wihout openeing the box, but these prepackaged crafty gifts that are marketed at kids are usually put together with cheap, inferior materials that are ofen not suitable for the purpose (like glue that doesn't actually stick, or paintbrushes that are so thick and floppy that no detailed painting is possible.<BR/><BR/>Top of my list of disappointing craft gifts would be the "pottery wheel" Amelia was given a few years ago. Made of plastic, and battery operated, it never went faster than a microwave turntable. Turning pottery is hard when you have all the proper equipment. This kit was a pathetic exercise in frustration, but worse, it was a huge piece of useless landfill.<BR/><BR/>Home made Play Dough is a great example of what is good about crafting with kids. It is cheap and not wasteful (especially when you store in in an airtight container in the fridge for a year or so) and encourages imagination.<BR/>Good quality, washable paints and felt tips (crayola anyone) with good quality brushes are the best gift for any kid.<BR/>The best crafty gifts for kids can be found in the art supply stores, it's the good quality stuff for adults.<BR/><BR/>Clearly you are creative Em, but just frustrated by stupid junk - just like me!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com