COMMENTARY: Kids Love to Make Stuff

Kids love to make stuff. Arts and crafts, do-it-yourself kits, construction sets—you name it. I loved crafts as a kid, especially the kinds that didn’t quickly run out of the included supplies, so I could start over if it wasn’t quite right the first time.

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Recently, I took home Schylling’s Metal Pot Holder Loom. It was the first time I’d made one of those over-under hook-and-loop pot holders since elementary school. Even back then, I remember taking great pains to get the weave tight, so there weren’t gaps or curves. This time was no different, except that the loom is now significantly larger. The kit includes a metal loom, a metal hook, a plastic crochet hook, an instruction manual, and enough loops to create two pot holders and still have some left over. One quiet weeknight, I settled in with a good show on TV and started making a pot holder. The little girl in me still enjoyed the process, and I put thought into the design before beginning. The result was an even, tight, and pretty awesome-looking kitchen accessory, if I do say so myself.

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Kiss Naturals’ line of DIY Kits lets kids make their own soaps, perfumes, and lip balms with 100-percent natural ingredients. The Natural DIY Lava Lip Gloss Kit lets kids make eight glosses with bubbling color swirls, and no fillers, synthetics, dyes, or additives. Each kit includes eight roll-on tubes, safflower oil, castor oil, four colored glycerines, and two essential oils for kids to make their own fun and stylish cosmetic lip gloss. Other kits from Kiss Naturals include the Natural DIY Dog Paw Balm Kit, the Natural DIY Bath Fizzie Kit, the Natural DIY Roll On Perfume Kit Mini, and the Natural DIY Soap Kit, among others.

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Alex Toys has several temporary tattoo kits for kids ages 8 and up to accessorize with. The Sparkle Tattoo Parlor Cool Glam kit features four dark-toned glitter, application brushes, tattoo glue, and instructions, as well as stencils of hearts, butterflies, music notes, peace signs, and more. The Tres Chic Glitter & Glam Tattoos kit features temporary jewelry tattoos such as rings, bracelets, and necklaces, and includes more than 130 designs. The set comes with gem tattoos, markers, glitter, a brush, and a sponge.

For more commentary from Christine, check back often. Views expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Toy Book as a whole. We hope that you will share your comments and feedback below. Until next time!

About the author

Christine Duhaime

Christine Duhaime

Christine Duhaime is an associate editor at Adventure Publishing Group. She contributes to leading trade magazines The Toy Book and The Licensing Book and manages all editorial content for thelicensingbook.com. She also contributes to seasonal publication The Halloween Insider and blogger reference site thebigtoybook.com Christine is a nostalgia junkie and a plush enthusiast. She enjoys exploring and photography, and is always up for an impromtu adventure. You can follow her on Instagram @christineduhaime.

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