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Home > News > Craft House
Craft House
Posted: July 9th, 2006 @ 3:20am
The craft house is that little house that sits between the gym and the elementary school. Once this used to be the English class room and also a library. Since both of those places now have new locations, we have found a new purpose for the quaint brick house.
The vision for the craft house is to have a place at Emmanuel where the children can get away from their daily routines. We want a place where they can explore their creativity and also where we can teach them something that they can use in their future. If some of the children get really good at a certain craft such as knitting or beadwork, this could be very helpful in their future.
Going to the craft house should also be a privilege. If they have had good behavior, they are able to come in the afternoons and sometimes also in evening. They have a choice to come also. We don’t want to force any of them to be creative, but very rarely do they refuse.
The craft house is also used for the toddlers. When the volunteers take the toddlers out in the mornings, they bring them to the craft house. We have decorated the house so that half of it is for the toddlers and the other half is for the older children. The toddler side is like a little preschool with toys, play mats, crafts, and a little table and chairs. They come to the craft house not just to play but also for us to teach them. We want them to be prepared for preschool and kinder. They are learning their colors, days of the week, numbers, how to recognize their name and so forth.
Another way we use the craft house is with the special needs children. Most of these children can not attend school, but they still enjoy using their hands and being creative. This is a good time for them to learn how to concentrate and finish something. There are also games and puzzles for those who would rather play.
The craft house is also the place where we pass out sponsor letters and gifts to the children, and they are able to write back and make something creative if wanted for their sponsor besides just a letter. There is so much potential for this little brick building we call the craft house. From crafts, to games, to letters, to a mini preschool, we have found many ways to use this small house and we will continue find new ways as the Lord leads.
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