Children can sometimes find themselves at a loose end and, in such circumstances, it is good for parents to have activities available that their youngsters can get stuck into. This is the purpose of a book by Heather Swain, which is entitled Make These Toys. In the tome, there are a number of ideas involving arts and crafts, the Canadian Press reports. Indeed, there are a whole range of kids' toys available on the market that can enable youngsters to craft new objects. For example, paintbrushes, pens and scissors can all be used by boys and girls who enjoy being creative. Commenting on the suggestions present in her book, Ms Swain said the process of making objects in the ways described is only half of the fun. After they have been completed, youngsters can then play with the things they have made. She added: "You really don't have to stick to the book. You can make things however you want. You can change them up a little bit if they don't work with the stuff you have. "I really find that the most gratifying - people not following my directions to a T but finding their own way." These types of kids' toys may be attractive to parents who are worried their offspring are spending too much time using technology such as computers. The book contains hands-on fun for young children who have help from adults. It is also suitable for older ones - around the age of 11 - who can work through the projects on their own. According to Ms Swain, making children's toys using arts and crafts teaches youngsters skills and confidence, as well as how to entertain themselves. The author noted: "Sometimes you want to do a project with your kids. At other times you want your kids to go away and do it themselves." A book such as this may be particularly helpful for parents during school holidays, as these are notorious for boys and girls becoming restless and demanding attention. While the summer vacation is over in the UK for this year, there are half-term breaks on the horizon and the Christmas period will arrive sooner than people think. For this reason, now may be a good time to invest in arts and crafts materials for kids. Praising the efforts of youngsters when it comes to the items they make could be advisable for mums and dads as this is likely to boost their confidence and it may enhance their self-esteem. And by developing arts and crafts skills, children could discover they have a real ability that they then take further through their studies. This may eventually have a life-changing impact and could affect such things as their careers. Ms Swain's book is not the only one of its kind on the market and parents keen to investigate what is on offer can do so either by browsing the web or heading to bookshops to see what is available that may interest their sons and daughters.
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