The buzzword that’s been floating around the internet a lot lately is ‘making.’ It’s a new term for something old: arts and crafts, hobbies and creative pursuits of all kinds.

Making is not just 3D printing, Art Lino and Raspberry Pi; it’s carpentry and welding and sculpting and baking and painting and photography and cosplay – in short, any time you create something from scratch that didn’t exist before. You could even describe the Cardboard Challenges Maker Education camp that Gathered hosted as messy and chaotic, but authentic and engaged learning often looks like that!

Whether you think of it as Art or Craft Therapy or simply self-improvement through creativity, crafting has lifelong benefits for mind, body and spirit. It improves cognition and mental wellbeing while raising happiness levels and reducing depression. It also reduces stress and boosts confidence. In addition, it helps with social engagement and builds community.

One of the most exciting things about crafting is that it’s accessible to people of all ages and abilities, including the young and elderly. Research suggests that adults with dementia find comfort and relief through creative activities, which can be a form of therapy for those suffering from the debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

It’s also been suggested that crafting may help children with grief and loss by encouraging them to rediscover their creativity and providing a way for them to express their feelings. It is a great form of relaxation and can also be used as an opportunity to bond with other children or family members who have suffered the same loss.

Hobbies and crafts that involve repetitive creative motions activate the flow state in the brain – otherwise known as ‘the zone’ – which is associated with enhanced happiness, wellbeing and self-esteem. When you achieve a result in the flow state you are flooded with dopamine, the feel-good chemical that motivates us. Creating a piece of art or craftwork that you are proud of will give you the same feeling of achievement, especially if it’s well received by others.

Using different materials to craft with can help encourage creativity. Whether it’s recycled materials, natural objects or craft scraps that you have lying around the house, finding an interesting material to use can be a great motivator to get you started. Trying to create a unique craft from the materials you have available can also be fun and a good challenge.

For example, try giving your kids a challenge to create something that floats, requiring them to experiment with different household items and materials to see what works best. You can also design challenges that require them to work with a blindfold, as this will encourage them to rely more on their sense of touch and sound. This can be a great mindfulness activity too, promoting deep concentration and focus. This is especially useful for those struggling with anxiety and stress.