Handicrafts for Boys – FREE Resources and Ideas

Have you considered adding handicrafts into your homeschool days?

I think that every homeschool should incorporate some type of handicraft time into their days. Charlotte Mason wrote a lot about her children taking the time to make handicrafts during their school days. Handicrafts are not just paper and glue crafts that you would make in a preschool or kindergarten class. Charlotte Mason speaks of handicrafts in her book Home Education.

There are 4 principles to keep in mind when choosing a handicraft:
1. The product should be useful/and or decorative. You will want to pick something that can be used again and again, or something that can be displayed as a decoration in a room in your home.
2. Teach the children slowly and carefully, what they should do. When you are teaching them how to build/construct/create their handicraft of choice, make sure you take the time with them, showing them exactly how to do it so it is done correctly.
3. Emphasize the habit of doing your best. Make sure that they don’t just throw it together to get it done. It is important to teach them to do the very best that they can do and put all their effort into creating a nice, final product.
4. “The children’s work should be kept well within their compass.” This means that you should select a handicraft that is within the age range/ability level of your children.

Handicrafts seem easy to pick for girls, sometimes they can be a lot harder to choose from for boys. There are many handicrafts that girls do, that boys can most certainly try as well like crocheting, knitting, sewing, etc… but today we will focus on some types of handicrafts that boys will enjoy.

Leatherwork:
A beginner’s guide to leatherworking
Handstamped leather bracelet tutorial
Leather Tassle Keychains
DIY Leather Cuffs from Old Belts

Soapmaking/soapcarving:
How to make a soap carving
Handmade soap -using pure glycerin that you pour into molds.

Woodwork:
Make your own wooden blocks
Wood Whittling a treasured past time – this is a great article by Fun Adventure for Boys
Leaf Carving Project
How to whittle sticks
Simple and easy woodworking projects for kids
Wooden Geo Board

Papercrafts: there are so many fun papercrafts that your boys can make. You can teach them how to make cards for birthdays and origami is really neat too.
Origami for kids
How to Fold Origami Cranes

Making tools and weapons:
How to make a stone axe
How to make a bow and arrow
Make a pool noodle rocket flicker
Make a pool noodle lightsaber – not a real weapon, but would make for a fun gift!

Sewing : I think it’s important to teach your sons how to hand sew. They can learn how to sew buttons, and patches on to things and mend tears in their clothing. You can also teach them how to use a sewing machine! I know lots of husbands and dads that enjoy sewing and help their wives with projects.
Intro to Hand Sewing
Here is a great book that teaches hand sewing that is available for FREE on the public domain:
Hand Sewing Lessons: a graded course for schools and the home

Making things from duct tape:
This is a new type of craft that is trendy and gaining in popularity, but you really can make some useful things out of duct tape! My son has a duct tape wallet that he made years ago and he still uses it everyday!
Duct Tape Hammock
3 Easy Ways to Make a Duct Tape Wallet
Duct Tape DS or Game Boy Case
Duct Tape Picture Frame

Warfare By Duct Tape is hitting the homeschool world by storm!
Have you checked it out yet?

Next week we will focus on Handicrafts for Girls!