Why arts & crafts help pre-teens ease into socialising

And how you can use them to help your child. Arts and crafts provide a gentle bridge into friendship-building.

Sitting side-by-side takes the pressure off constant eye contact or “performing” in conversation. The activity supplies easy talking points—fabric and card choices, colours, how simple or tricky it is to cut, fold or stick—so chat can start naturally. It also opens space for low-pressure compliments (“I like your pattern” / “That fold works really well”), and gives quieter children time to pluck up the courage to speak when they’re ready, rather than on demand.

For small get-togethers, keep numbers even so no one is left as the “odd one out”. Inviting three other children (making a group of four) works especially well: they can pair up, swap partners during stages of the activity, and share tools without stress. With hands busy and minds focused, confidence has space to grow and conversation follows.

I like to create a miniature stage sets from a cat food box!

You too could provide the materials to turn an ordinary cat food cardboard box into an extraordinary miniature stage set! In this imaginative arts and crafts activity, you can transform your box into a  3D scene—perhaps a mysterious secret garden, a cosy sitting room, or a rustic old barn.

Using materials like lolly sticks, matchsticks, wool, fabric, glue, paint, and modelling clay, you’ll bring your scene to life with texture and character. Add intricate touches with a wood burner pen for wooden textures or lettering, or experiment with a 3D pen to build features that really pop!

Follow this link to find the 3D pen I use. https://amzn.to/4fpCIPq

This activity sparks creativity, storytelling, and problem-solving—all while giving children the freedom to express their ideas in a hands-on, playful way. Perfect for pre-teens who love crafts, theatre, or just making things from scratch.