The act of forming, shaping, or elaborating. Also, to establish or place in a desirable state.

Making is more than just a hobby—it’s an effective tool for building self-esteem and providing a sense of achievement, particularly for kids who are often prone to feeling like they can’t do anything right. Whether it’s knitting, coloring, or even just putting together a puzzle, making can help alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression, increase cognitive abilities, and even reduce pain.

What Is Making?

A DIY craft is any type of hands-on creative activity that involves using a variety of materials. The possibilities for DIY crafting are endless, from traditional arts and crafts (knitting, painting, drawing, or scrapbooking) to woodworking, sculpting, and pottery. The benefit of DIY crafting is that it doesn’t need to be perfect and can be enjoyed at any age or skill level.

Some crafts can be physically demanding, such as woodworking and carpentry, or can involve significant physical exertion, like kneading clay or sewing with heavy materials. The exercise involved in these types of crafting activities can promote a healthy lifestyle by helping to reduce stress, improve mood and mental health, and encourage a regular activity routine.

Others may provide a form of pain management through distraction. The immersive nature of DIY crafting can draw attention away from painful sensations, thus reducing pain perception and allowing individuals to feel more in control of their lives. This may be especially helpful for individuals with chronic or acute pain conditions.

In addition, the learning process that comes with crafting can teach kids how to be patient and persevere through challenging tasks. It can also help them understand that it’s okay to make mistakes, and teaches them to read instructions carefully before moving on to the next step. Learning that it’s important to be a good team player is another key lesson that crafting can teach children. In fact, some studies suggest that a good team can be more productive than a group of highly skilled individuals working independently.