Beads and Children
By Modestah
@Modestah (11177)
United States
March 6, 2007 12:55am CST
My twelve year old has been expressing an interest to learn bead working for the last couple of years. With visions of seed beads under my feet and in my vacuum cleaner I have put off her request. But, i think she is now responsible enough to take care of the beads and be able to do a project to completion. Now my question: are those little bead loom kits for making woven bead projects actually doable? can a kid figure them out and actually make a decent project, or are they a waste of money? I see walmart has them for around $10
thanks for your insight
1 person likes this
4 responses
@astromama (1221)
• United States
6 Mar 07
I can't help you with the bead loom kits, because I have never tried them. However, I think beading is an excellent craft to learn, and if she is truly interested I would like to share two tips from a jeweler friend of mine. Get her an old jewelry box with lots of individual compartments to keep her beads separate and organized. Two, have her use a tray... an old platter will work just fine. My friend brings these two things to whichever room of the house she is working in, and it greatly reduces the number of beads that end up on the floor. She can set out the beads she will be using on her tray and it keeps them from rolling all over the place.
@Modestah (11177)
• United States
6 Mar 07
thank you very much for the excellent advice! I happen to have one or two of those old costume jewelry boxes, with slide out drawers and pop out shelves and oh so many compartments - I will have to give them to her when she gets started. The tray seems such a simple idea but I am not sure that I would have thought of it, so thank you very much for your reply!
2 people like this
@sasklily (240)
• Canada
10 Mar 07
My daughter had one of the bead looms when she was around 12 years old and made a few things with it.
She mostly just made bracelets and I guess you can make belts with them.
I don't really know much about them and never tried it myself. She's grown with a family of her own now, so this was a long time ago (she's a grandma herself).
@auburndreams (838)
• United States
11 Mar 07
Many children use beading looms and they have good success with them, but I wouldn't start out with one.
I recommend getting some felt squares and some beads that are bigger than seed beads, along with matching beading needle and thread. Cut a simple shape from the felt like a heart and teach her to sew beads to the felt. Sew two hearts together using a blanket stitch and stuff with a little polyester fiberfill, old stockings or potpourri.
Then when she's developed the hand eye coordination, learn loom beading.
Also, get an inexpensive dropcloth and put it under your beading table. It will catch most of the beads that spill and you can corral the beads into the center when you are done and scoop them back into a container for next time.
@aninspiration (346)
• United States
29 Jul 07
if its the sead beads your worried about what about starting her with a larger bead instead the is easier to handle also
@JOLINAR1073 (88)
• United States
22 Jul 07
Actually, there is a "toy" out called the Bead Spinner, which I use for making jewelry with seed beads. It's worked wonders for me.:) I would also recommend having her use storage box or craft organizers. They have them at Wal-Mart, too. But, I don't recommend the looms just yet. Have her start with basic stringing. Michael's also has kits available for kids and if you get the sunday paper, they often have 50% off coupons. There are also tutorials on the Michael's website that will teach her some of the basics. Or, if you have a Beading Store local to your area....they often offer basic beading techniques as a class. Her friends will be incredibly jealous of her creations and more than likely will want to learn as well. It's always good for a girl to have a hobby:) If you are interested, I have a group for beading and I also cover it in my blog: www.scificrafter.blogspot.com, there's a link to my group on Yahoo, but there are also tons and tons of groups out there that could give her good beginner tips...hope that helps!
@Modestah (11177)
• United States
29 Jul 07
We did end up buying her a set from Walmart, it is plastic so I was not expecting too much from it - but she caught right on and has made some really beautiful pieces.
she was showing one (my favorite) to a friend who misunderstood it to be a gift for her, so dd graciously said you are welcome.
I wish there were such stores close to us, the nearest hobby type shop is 95 miles one way drive. needless to say we do not get out there very often.
Thank you for the ideas as we wish to encourage her to continue in this hobby by adding to her equipment on the next gift giving occasion.
