Building models with kids is a great activity that involves thinking in three dimensions, following instructions, and patience! All wonderful things to develop. Plus the end results might look great on a shelf in your child's room, as a reminder of his/her accomplishment!
Our story goes like this: my nine year old, who tends not be very interested in crafting, picked up a canvas embroidery project this morning as he is home from school with a fever. Hmmm, I thought, how interesting that unprompted he actually wanted to do a little crafting, all be it constrained, but nonetheless, crafting!
Well the embroidery lasted all of ten minutes, so I then decided to sit down with him and once again try to tackle a wooden model, the same kind that I've already purchased several times, but I think prematurely as the kids were too young to get it and even I had trouble wrapping my brain around it! Because you see, with wooden models of this sort, there are no directions, just a diagram of the pieces with little numbers everywhere that one matches up in order to know which pieces go together. Not really so difficult, but one needs a little concentration to figure it out, at first that is....I'd love to do some more myself!
This time with just a bit of patience, we built the model together, though honestly I did most of the work, in order, of course to encourage him and show him that engaging in activities of this kind are challenging and satisfying. I'm not sure who's happier about the results, me or him, and now I'm hoping he'll have the confidence to try doing one mostly himself with just a bit of input.
And the good news is we have two more to practice our skills on, and at such an inexpensive price, less than a dollar each, these are a great find, available at dollar stores, and in Israel at Max Stock. Of course you could also challenge yourself with the building and give your efforts to a younger child to paint, also a great little project!
Enjoy, and if you see these puzzles, do pick up a few to have on hand.....they'd make great little projects to take along for summer trips as well!
Note: I have now convinced my son that the next model will be done with only partial assistance from me, and the third one he will then be able to do all by himself. After all the wows we got today from this bull, he may just step up to the plate and make the effort, and I'm rooting for him!
