When I worked with individual families, this question came up often – should I let my kids use kits or have them work from scratch? I had listened to speakers and read articles that said absolutely no kits. By then, I had stopped living in a black-and-white world. I had learned to take my family, their needs, as well as my own, into consideration when deciding what was good for connection and learning. I had gotten brave enough to say, “I’m the expert in my home.” I surely didn’t know everything and still don’t, but I observed, pondered, and used my good sense. With that in mind, read what I’m sharing today about using kits with kids, and then do what’s right in your home, with your kids or grands.
My Thoughts
I didn’t use many kits in my Spark Station, a dedicated creative space in my home, but I would occasionally take one traveling, like the solar system kit someone gave me. Here are some things to consider.
•Kits can be fun, and kids love them. They also come with a challenge for parents: we tend to want to follow the directions. Kits work best when parents let go of the outcome. A perfect bar of soap isn’t as important as mixing, experimenting, and deciding what to do next. Failure can be a great learning tool.
•If used too often, kits can stifle creativity because there isn’t as much room for experimentation. Paint by number is never going to be as effective in getting a child to think as a blank piece of paper and tubs of paint. The finished product may be more eye appealing, but that isn’t the point, is it! We want kids to express themselves, think, and problem-solve. However, if you’re taking a long car trip, paint-by-number beats tubs of paint every time.
•Occasionally, a kit isn’t worth what you pay because the contents are skimpy, and you can assemble one yourself more affordably. You have to decide if the kit is worth the cost and if it will allow your child to expand their knowledge and creativity.
•Here’s the most important consideration: can you release the cost of the kit? This kind of thinking will stifle your child’s creativity and ability to explore, “I paid $15 for that kit, and you aren’t going to ruin it.” If you can’t let go of the cost, don’t buy it. If you must hover to make sure it gets done right, then kits are not a good choice for you.
Oh, the Places a Kit Can Go
Don’t abandon kits altogether, as long as you can let go of the cost and let kids make mistakes. What if you decided to put a telescope in your Spark Station, but you have a child who loves putting things together? In that case, a telescope kit might be perfect. I found one online for around $25, a great way to give a child a taste of engineering while learning and having fun.
So much of what we consider play is actually science, math, and more. While doing research for my book, Becoming a Present Parent, I was amazed by the variety of inexpensive kits available, but even more surprised by the categories. When I searched Chemistry for Children, I found everything from professional equipment to kits for kindergartners, including how to brew your own root beer, make chewing gum, craft homemade cheese, mix a perfume, make soap, build a candy factory, and create cosmetics. I’ll bet you have a child or grandchild who would be over the moon to try one of those.
A kit can also help you respond to a Spark, meaning whatever your child is currently excited or curious about. What if your daughter is all about hair and makeup, like my granddaughter Mary? You could add a cosmetics or perfume kit to your Spark Station. The next thing you know, her brother, dad, or little sister is helping her read the directions, and they’re off. That interest could eventually lead to herbs, medicines, or potpourri, especially if you add a few books on those topics to your Spark Station.
One more idea: you can get great inspiration for your Spark Station simply by browsing kits, even if you never buy one. What would you need on hand to do a similar project yourself? Take a terrarium, for example. You could add containers, a bag of soil, and a few small plants to your Spark Station. During family time, there will be no shortage of ideas about what to do with it all. Add a book on terrariums, and you might find yourself in a wonderful conversation about biospheres and ecosystems, with the right books nearby for every age in your family.
That’s what we hope for, that a simple kit or collection of supplies sparks curiosity, creativity, and connection. It may or may not unfold that way, and that’s okay. Like everything else in your Spark Station and family life, it’s all an experiment.