Parent Makers

The maker movement has exploded into our culture in the past few years. Maker culture is an extension of do-it-yourself (DIY) culture with an emphasis on technologies such as robotics, 3D printing, electronics as well as traditional crafts like woodworking, textiles, and more. There are many resources available in print and online for projects ideas and guides.

On Saturday, February 4th we are hosted a maker workshop for adults specifically targeted at making with and for young children. With this group we aim to share ideas about projects, tips and tricks, and make a few things to take home. You can find out more about the workshop on our website: http://als.lib.wi.us/EFPL/events.html.

In the meantime, here is a list of wonderfully inspiring book focused on art, creativity, and making with children.

Tinkerlab: A Hands-On Guide for Little Inventors by Rachelle Doorley
This book is full of great ideas to encourage creativity and invention in your home. There are a lot of ideas and practical advice for parents looking to inspire their little ones from how to foster a creative environment in your home to step by step project ideas.


Time to Create: Hands-On Explorations in Process Art for Young Children by Christie Burnett
Focused on process art, this book shares advice, project ideas, and more for families looking to create art together and individually.

The Artful Parent: Simple Ways to Fill Your Family's Life with Art and Creativity by Jean Van't Hull
Van't Hull shares dozens of project ideas, supply lists, and recipes that she has tested out with her family. The Artful Parent details her parenting philosophy and ideas for including art in home life. The Artful Year shares ideas for activities and projects organized by the four seasons and encourages families to explore and create inside and outdoors.


Maker Dad by Mark Frauenfelder
Mark Fraruenfelder has worked as the editor in chief of MAKE magazine. In this book he shares guides for fun, technology based projects for children and caregivers to build together. Many of the projects include computer programming, robotics, electronics, and other topics best suited for older children.

Loose Parts: Inspiring Play in Young Children  by Lisa Daly and Loose Parts 2: Inspiring Play with Infants and Toddlers by Miriam Beloglovsky
The idea of loose parts is to capture children's curiosity and to give them space to explore, create, and learn through play. The best part of these books are the beautiful, large photographs that will inspire you to find and play with loose parts with the young children in your life.



Pirates & Pompoms: How to Make Children's Toys and Costumes by Stella Bell
This guide is wonderful for adults looking to create handmade toys to encourage creative play in children. There are patterns for knitting projects, templates for toys and and many bright photographs to inspire readers.