Merry Christmas Crafting for Kids

Table of Contents

1. Why Christmas Crafts Are More Than Just Fun
2. Our Favorite Easy Christmas Crafts for Young Children (Ages 2-5)
3. Engaging Christmas Crafts for Older Kids (Ages 6-10)
4. How Speech Blubs Supercharges Holiday Communication
5. Maximizing Communication During Craft Time
6. Why Choose Speech Blubs This Christmas?
7. Conclusion
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The holiday season often feels like a whirlwind of twinkling lights, joyful carols, and endless to-do lists. Amidst the festive frenzy, it’s easy to get caught up in the commercial side of Christmas, but for many of us, the true magic lies in the quiet moments of connection and creativity with our children. Imagine the delight in your child’s eyes as they transform simple materials into a sparkling ornament or a cheerful Santa, their small hands sticky with glue and paint, their minds buzzing with ideas. These aren’t just crafts; they are opportunities to build cherished memories, foster creativity, and, perhaps most importantly, to spark vital communication and language development.

This post will explore a delightful array of Christmas crafts suitable for various age groups, offering practical ideas to infuse your home with handmade holiday cheer. Beyond the glitter and glue, we’ll dive into the profound developmental benefits these activities offer, particularly for speech and language. We’ll show you how to leverage these festive moments to encourage descriptive language, follow instructions, and express ideas, transforming craft time into invaluable learning experiences. We’ll also share how Speech Blubs, with its unique “smart screen time” approach and “video modeling” methodology, can seamlessly support and enhance these communication-rich activities. Our mission at Speech Blubs is to empower children to speak their minds and hearts, and we believe that combining hands-on play with targeted support can unlock incredible potential. Engaging in holiday crafts isn’t just about making pretty decorations; it’s a powerful avenue for fostering creativity, family bonding, and vital speech and language skills that will last a lifetime.

Why Christmas Crafts Are More Than Just Fun

Christmas crafts are often seen as delightful pastimes, perfect for keeping little hands busy and decorating the home. However, their benefits extend far beyond simple entertainment and aesthetics. These seemingly simple activities are rich, multi-sensory experiences that contribute significantly to a child’s holistic development, laying crucial groundwork for future learning and social interaction.

Nurturing Fine Motor Skills and Coordination

From the moment a child picks up a crayon or manipulates a piece of paper, they are honing their fine motor skills. Cutting with child-safe scissors, gluing tiny sequins, carefully painting within lines, or even just tearing paper into strips, all require precision and control. These actions strengthen the small muscles in their hands and fingers, which are essential for tasks like writing, buttoning clothes, and self-feeding. The repetitive nature of many craft activities helps to refine hand-eye coordination, allowing children to execute movements with greater accuracy and confidence. For a child who might be hesitant with intricate movements, starting with larger pieces and gradually moving to smaller, more detailed work can build their confidence and skill over time.

Stimulating Cognitive Development and Problem-Solving

Crafts inherently involve a series of steps and decisions, providing excellent opportunities for cognitive growth. Children learn to follow multi-step instructions, whether from a parent or a visual guide, which strengthens their ability to sequence actions and complete tasks. When a glue stick runs out, or a particular color is unavailable, children learn to adapt and problem-solve, finding alternative solutions. Imagining how different materials will come together to create a desired outcome also fosters critical thinking and planning skills. For instance, deciding where to place the snowman’s buttons or how to make a star stand upright challenges their spatial reasoning and encourages creative solutions.

Encouraging Sensory Exploration

The holiday season is a feast for the senses, and crafts amplify this experience. Children engage with a diverse range of textures – the softness of cotton balls, the rough feel of a pinecone, the stickiness of glue, the smoothness of paper, or the grittiness of salt dough. They experience a spectrum of vibrant colors, often associated with the festive season, like deep reds, emerald greens, and shimmering golds. The gentle scent of cinnamon sticks or evergreen needles incorporated into natural crafts further enriches this sensory experience. This tactile and olfactory engagement is crucial for sensory processing and helps children build a richer understanding of their world. For children who might be sensitive to certain textures, crafts offer a controlled environment to gradually introduce new sensations, always with gentle encouragement and never force.

Fostering Emotional Connection and Self-Esteem

Creating something with their own hands, especially a gift for a loved one or a decoration for their home, instills a profound sense of accomplishment and pride in children. This boost in self-esteem is invaluable. Moreover, crafting together creates a shared experience, strengthening family bonds and offering opportunities for parents and children to connect meaningfully. These moments of collaboration, laughter, and shared creativity become treasured family traditions, building a foundation of positive memories that last a lifetime. Imagine the joy of hanging an ornament year after year, knowing your child’s little hands made it.

The Communication Connection: A Natural Bridge to Language Skills

Perhaps one of the most significant, yet often overlooked, benefits of Christmas crafts is their immense potential for fostering communication and language development. Crafts provide a natural, engaging context for children to:

• Expand Vocabulary: Naming colors, shapes, materials (“glitter,” “ribbon,” “bauble”), actions (“cut,” “glue,” “paint”), and descriptive words (“sparkly,” “smooth,” “sticky,” “tiny,” “big”).
• Practice Following Directions: “First, cut the circle. Next, glue on the eyes.” This helps with auditory processing and sequential understanding.
• Develop Requesting Skills: “More glue, please!” “Can I have the red marker?” Encouraging specific requests rather than pointing helps children use words to communicate their needs and desires.
• Engage in Conversational Turn-Taking: As parents guide and assist, they create a natural back-and-forth dialogue. “What should we do next?” “Tell me about your snowman!”
• Describe and Narrate: Children can describe their creations, explain the process, or tell stories about the characters they’ve made (e.g., “This is Santa’s sleigh, and he’s going to deliver presents!”).
• Understand Spatial Concepts and Prepositions: “Put the star on top of the tree.” “The elf is next to Santa.”

For a parent whose 3-year-old “late talker” loves animals, making a reindeer craft can become a fun way to practice words like “nose,” “antlers,” and animal sounds associated with reindeer. You can prompt them by saying, “What sound does the reindeer make when he flies?” or “Which color nose should Rudolph have?” These simple interactions, woven into playful activities, are incredibly powerful. If you’re wondering if your child could benefit from more targeted support, take our quick 3-minute preliminary screener. It involves 9 simple questions and provides an assessment and a next-steps plan, including a free 7-day trial of Speech Blubs.

Our Favorite Easy Christmas Crafts for Young Children (Ages 2-5)

Crafts for toddlers and preschoolers should be simple, safe, and engaging, focusing on the process rather than a perfect end product. Here are some ideas packed with communication opportunities:

1. Paper Plate Santas or Snowmen

This classic craft is fantastic for introducing basic shapes, colors, and descriptive words.

• Materials: Paper plates, cotton balls, red and black construction paper, googly eyes, glue, markers.
• Instructions:
  1. Paint the bottom half of a paper plate red for Santa’s suit or leave it white for a snowman.
  2. Glue cotton balls to the top rim of the plate for Santa’s beard and hat trim, or all over for a fluffy snowman.
  3. Cut out a red hat for Santa, or a carrot nose and coal-like buttons for a snowman from construction paper.
  4. Glue on googly eyes and draw a mouth.
• Communication Opportunities:
  • Colors: “What color is Santa’s hat? Red!” “Can you find the black paper for the snowman’s eyes?”
  • Shapes: “We need a round plate!” “Let’s make a triangle hat for Santa.”
  • Action Words: “Glue the cotton balls on.” “Let’s paint the plate.”
  • Descriptive Words: “Look at Santa’s fluffy beard!” “The snowman is white and round.”
  • Following Directions: “First, we paint. Then, we glue.”

2. Cotton Ball Snowmen

A simple, tactile craft that’s great for sensory exploration and counting.

• Materials: Blue or black construction paper, cotton balls, glue, googly eyes, tiny orange triangle cutouts (for nose), markers.
• Instructions:
  1. Draw three circles on the construction paper to outline the snowman’s body.
  2. Have your child glue cotton balls inside the circles, creating a soft, puffy snowman.
  3. Add googly eyes, an orange carrot nose, and draw a smile and buttons with markers.
• Communication Opportunities:
  • Sensory Words: “The cotton is so soft and fluffy!” “The glue is sticky.”
  • Counting: “How many cotton balls do we need?” “Let’s count the buttons: one, two, three!”
  • Prepositions: “Put the nose in the middle.” “The hat goes on top.”
  • Quantity: “Do you want more cotton?” “We need a little bit of glue.”

3. Handprint or Footprint Ornaments

These make wonderful keepsakes and offer a chance to talk about body parts and feelings.

• Materials: Salt dough (flour, salt, water), paint, glitter, ribbon.
• Instructions (Salt Dough):
  1. Mix 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, and 1 cup water until a dough forms. Knead for 5-10 minutes.
  2. Roll out the dough. Press your child’s hand or foot firmly into the dough to create an imprint.
  3. Use a cookie cutter or knife to shape around the print. Make a small hole at the top for hanging.
  4. Bake at 250°F (120°C) for 2-3 hours until hard, or air dry for several days.
  5. Once cooled, paint and decorate. Add glitter or a protective sealant. Thread ribbon through the hole.
• Communication Opportunities:
  • Body Parts: “This is your hand!” “Can you show me your fingers?”
  • Size Concepts: “Your hand is so small!” “My hand is big.”
  • Action Words: “Let’s press your hand down.” “We need to paint it red.”
  • Emotions: “This makes me happy!” “We made a special memory.”
  • Descriptive Words: “The dough is smooth.” “The paint is shiny.”
  • For a parent whose child is working on identifying body parts, this craft provides a tangible, fun way to reinforce those words. You can download Speech Blubs on the App Store or Google Play and explore our “My Body” section before or during this craft to reinforce learning.

4. Popsicle Stick Christmas Trees

A simple geometric craft that allows for endless creative decoration.

• Materials: Green popsicle sticks (or paint regular ones green), glue, small pom-poms, sequins, glitter glue, a small star sticker or cutout for the top.
• Instructions:
  1. Glue three green popsicle sticks together in a triangle shape to form the tree outline. Add a small brown stick at the bottom for the trunk if desired.
  2. Let the glue dry completely.
  3. Decorate the tree with pom-poms, sequins, and glitter glue. Place a star at the top.
• Communication Opportunities:
  • Counting: “How many sticks do we need for the tree?” “Let’s count the pom-poms!”
  • Colors: “What color is the tree? Green!” “Which color pom-pom do you want?”
  • Prepositions: “Put the star on top.” “Glue the sequins on the branches.”
  • Requesting: “I need more glue, please.” “Can I have the blue pom-pom?”

Engaging Christmas Crafts for Older Kids (Ages 6-10)

Older children are ready for more complex tasks that encourage planning, fine-tuning, and sustained attention. These crafts offer fantastic opportunities for narrative development and expressing more intricate ideas.

1. DIY Christmas Card Making

Encourages creative writing, drawing, and expressing heartfelt messages.

• Materials: Cardstock, markers, colored pencils, glitter, stickers, craft punches, festive stamps, envelopes.
• Instructions:
  1. Fold cardstock to create blank cards.
  2. Brainstorm ideas for festive designs and messages.
  3. Encourage children to draw, color, stamp, and glue decorations onto their cards.
  4. Help them write personalized messages to family and friends.
• Communication Opportunities:
  • Storytelling/Narrative: “What story does your card tell?” “Imagine who will receive this card and what they’ll think.”
  • Expressing Feelings: “What message do you want to share with Grandma?” “Let’s write ‘Merry Christmas’ and ‘We love you!'”
  • Descriptive Language: “How can we make this card extra sparkly?” “Use the fancy stamp for the border.”
  • Planning: “Who are we making cards for?” “What will we draw on this one?”
  • It’s incredibly rewarding to see what other parents are saying about their child’s success with Speech Blubs, which helps children build the confidence to express themselves fully, just like they will when writing their own messages. See what other parents are saying about their child’s success with Speech Blubs.

2. Salt Dough Ornaments (Advanced)

This version allows for more intricate designs and painting.

• Materials: Salt dough (as above), cookie cutters (holiday shapes), stamps, paint (acrylic), paintbrushes, glitter, Mod Podge or clear sealant, ribbon.
• Instructions:
  1. Prepare and roll out salt dough.
  2. Use various holiday cookie cutters to make shapes. Use stamps to create textures or patterns before baking.
  3. Make a small hole at the top for hanging.
  4. Bake or air dry as per basic instructions.
  5. Once cooled, children can paint intricate designs, adding fine details with smaller brushes. Seal with Mod Podge for durability.
• Communication Opportunities:
  • Sequencing: “First, we roll the dough; then, we cut shapes; next, we bake.”
  • Following Multi-Step Directions: “Take the red paint, dip your brush, and carefully paint the reindeer’s nose.”
  • Sensory Vocabulary: Discussing the “gritty” dough, the “smooth” paint, the “sticky” sealant.
  • Planning and Negotiation: “Which design should we make for this one?” “Should we use glitter or just paint?”

3. Gingerbread House Decorating

A festive and delicious activity that encourages planning, sharing, and detailed descriptions.

• Materials: Gingerbread house kit (or pre-baked pieces), various candies (gumdrops, candy canes, M&Ms, sprinkles), icing (royal icing works best for “glue”).
• Instructions:
  1. Assemble the gingerbread house pieces using thick icing as “glue.” Let it set for a while.
  2. Once stable, begin decorating! Discuss where each candy will go and what “story” the house tells.
  3. Encourage creativity and sharing of materials.
• Communication Opportunities:
  • Spatial Concepts: “Put the candy cane next to the door.” “Let’s put the gumdrops on the roof.” “The chimney goes on top.”
  • Negotiation and Sharing: “Can I have some of the green M&Ms?” “Let’s share the sprinkles.”
  • Descriptive Language: “The roof is covered in colorful candies!” “The icing is sweet and sticky.”
  • Problem-Solving: “Oh no, the gumdrop rolled off! How can we make it stick?”
  • Vocabulary Expansion: Naming all the different candies and their attributes.

4. Pinecone Critters or Ornaments

A wonderful craft that combines nature and imagination.

• Materials: Pinecones, googly eyes, felt scraps, pom-poms, small twigs, glue, string or pipe cleaners for hanging.
• Instructions:
  1. Collect clean, dry pinecones (bake them at 200°F for 30 minutes to remove bugs and open them up).
  2. Decide what kind of critter or ornament to make (owls, reindeer, hedgehogs, simple decorated pinecones).
  3. Glue googly eyes, felt ears/antlers, pom-pom noses, and tiny twig arms/legs onto the pinecones.
  4. Add a string for hanging if making ornaments.
• Communication Opportunities:
  • Categorization: “This is a pinecone from a tree.” “These are craft supplies.”
  • Imagination/Storytelling: “What kind of animal is your pinecone?” “What is your little critter doing?”
  • Descriptive Words: “The pinecone is rough.” “This felt is soft.” “The googly eyes are wiggly.”
  • Prepositions: “Put the eyes on the front.” “The antlers go on top of the head.”
  • Action Words: “Let’s glue the eyes.” “We need to cut the felt.”

How Speech Blubs Supercharges Holiday Communication

At Speech Blubs, we understand that every child’s journey to communication is unique, and we’re dedicated to providing tools that make that journey joyful and effective. Our mission is to empower children to “speak their minds and hearts,” a goal born from the personal experiences of our founders, who all grew up with speech problems and created the tool they wished they had. We believe that holiday crafts offer a fantastic, natural environment for communication, and our app can perfectly complement these hands-on activities.

The Science Behind Our “Smart Screen Time”

In a world filled with passive entertainment, Speech Blubs offers a refreshing alternative: “smart screen time.” Unlike cartoons or other passive viewing, our app engages children in active participation, turning screen time into a powerful tool for learning. Our unique “video modeling” methodology is at the heart of our approach. Children learn by watching and imitating their peers on screen. This isn’t just theory; it’s backed by the science of “mirror neurons,” which are brain cells that fire both when we perform an action and when we observe someone else performing the same action. This natural biological process makes imitation a fundamental way humans learn, especially language. When children see other kids confidently making sounds and words, it creates a powerful, motivating, and effective learning environment. Our method is backed by science, placing us in the top tier of speech apps worldwide. Learn more about the research behind Speech Blubs.

Seamlessly Integrating Speech Blubs with Craft Time

Think of Speech Blubs as your communication co-pilot during craft activities. It can be used before, during, and after the hands-on fun to maximize language learning.

• Pre-Craft Warm-Up: Before starting a craft, you can use Speech Blubs to introduce or reinforce relevant vocabulary. For example, if you’re making a reindeer craft, watch the “Animal Kingdom” section to practice animal sounds and names. If you’re decorating with specific colors, review those colors in the app. This pre-exposure primes your child’s brain for the words they’ll encounter during the craft.
• During the Craft: The app can be a quick reference or a fun interlude. If your child is struggling with an action word like “cut” or “glue,” a brief moment with a corresponding activity in Speech Blubs can provide a clear model. Or, if they’re working on a specific sound (e.g., /s/ for “star” or “santa”), you can find related exercises. For a child struggling with animal sounds, for example, making a reindeer craft provides a tangible link. They can watch the “Animal Kingdom” section on Speech Blubs and then practice saying “reindeer” or even a “ho-ho-ho” sound as they work on their craft.
• Post-Craft Review & Description: Once the masterpiece is complete, use Speech Blubs to encourage your child to describe their creation. The app offers activities that focus on descriptive language, storytelling, and answering “wh” questions. You can ask, “What did you make?” “What colors did you use?” “How does your gingerbread house look?” This helps solidify new vocabulary and build confidence in expressing ideas.

By blending the playful, tangible experience of crafting with the targeted, engaging practice offered by Speech Blubs, you create a powerful, multi-sensory learning environment. It’s a screen-free alternative to passive viewing (like cartoons) because our app requires active participation, and it’s a powerful tool for family connection, as you guide and celebrate your child’s progress. We provide an immediate, effective, and joyful solution for the 1 in 4 children who need speech support, blending scientific principles with play into one-of-a-kind “smart screen time” experiences. Ready to empower your child’s communication journey? Download Speech Blubs on the App Store or Google Play today!

Maximizing Communication During Craft Time

To truly harness the communication potential of Christmas crafts, it’s helpful to be intentional with your interactions. Here are some strategies to encourage rich language development:

• Focus on Descriptive Language: Guide your child to use words that describe attributes. Instead of just “star,” encourage “shiny star,” “yellow star,” or “big star.” Talk about the “sticky glue,” the “soft cotton,” the “sparkly glitter,” or the “rough pinecone.” This expands their adjective vocabulary and sensory awareness.
• Emphasize Action Words (Verbs): Use and prompt for verbs related to the craft. “Let’s cut the paper.” “Can you glue the eyes?” “Time to paint the tree.” “We need to stick the ribbon.”
• Incorporate Prepositions and Spatial Concepts: Crafts are perfect for teaching where things go. “Put the hat on top of the snowman.” “The buttons go in the middle.” “Is the ornament above or below the other one?”
• Practice Sequencing Words: Help your child understand the order of steps. “First, we draw. Then, we color. Next, we cut.” You can even use simple visual schedules for more complex crafts.
• Offer Choices and Encourage Requesting: Instead of handing them materials, ask, “Do you want the blue or the red marker?” “Scissors or glue stick?” When they point, gently prompt for a word: “Do you want the red?” or “Say ‘marker, please.'” This moves them from gestures to verbal requests.
• Ask Open-Ended Questions: Avoid questions that only require a “yes” or “no” answer. Instead of “Is that nice?”, try “What do you like about your reindeer?” or “Tell me about your gingerbread house.” “How did you make that part?” This encourages more elaborate responses and storytelling.
• Model and Expand: When your child says a single word, expand on it. If they say “tree,” you can say, “Yes, a green Christmas tree!” or “The tree is tall.” This provides them with richer language models.
• Take Turns and Pause: Model conversational turn-taking by saying something and then pausing, giving your child ample opportunity to respond. “My turn to glue, then your turn!” Count silently to five if needed to allow processing time.
• Narrate Your Actions: Talk through what you are doing as you craft. “I am cutting the paper. Now I will glue the two pieces together.” This provides a constant stream of language input.
• Embrace Imperfection and Focus on Process: The goal is communication and connection, not a gallery-worthy masterpiece. Celebrate effort and creativity over perfection. If a craft doesn’t turn out “right,” talk about it: “Oh, the glitter spilled! What can we do now?” This teaches problem-solving and resilience while maintaining a positive communication environment.

Why Choose Speech Blubs This Christmas?

This holiday season, give the gift of confident communication. At Speech Blubs, we are committed to providing an immediate, effective, and joyful solution for the 1 in 4 children who need speech support. We blend scientific principles with play, transforming screen time from a passive activity into a one-of-a-kind “smart screen time” experience. Our app is a powerful tool for family connection, helping you create meaningful learning moments with your child.

We believe in transparency and providing exceptional value to our families. Here’s a breakdown of our plans:

• Monthly Plan: $14.99 per month. This plan offers access to our core features, allowing you to support your child’s speech development month by month.
• Yearly Plan: $59.99 per year. This is our most popular and value-packed option! It breaks down to just $4.99 per month, allowing you to save 66% compared to the monthly plan.

The Yearly Plan isn’t just cheaper; it comes with exclusive, high-value features designed to enhance your child’s learning journey:

• A 7-day free trial: This allows you to explore the full potential of Speech Blubs before committing. The Monthly plan does not include this free trial.
• The extra Reading Blubs app: An invaluable bonus to support early literacy and reading skills.
• Early access to new updates: Be among the first to experience our latest features and improvements.
• 24-hour support response time: Get quick and dedicated assistance whenever you need it.

We highly encourage you to choose the Yearly Plan to unlock the full suite of features, including your 7-day free trial, and maximize your savings. It’s the best way to empower your child’s communication journey and ensure they have every opportunity to “speak their minds and hearts.”

Ready to get started? Create your account and begin your 7-day free trial today!

Conclusion

Christmas crafts offer so much more than just festive decorations; they are vibrant, multi-sensory experiences that fuel creativity, strengthen family bonds, and, crucially, provide a rich playground for speech and language development. From the simplest paper plate Santa to an intricate gingerbread house, each craft presents countless opportunities for children to expand their vocabulary, practice following directions, develop descriptive language, and express their burgeoning ideas. These hands-on activities, when approached with intentional communication strategies, transform into invaluable learning moments that build confidence and reduce frustration.

At Speech Blubs, we are dedicated to complementing these joyful experiences with our unique “smart screen time” approach. Our app, built on scientific “video modeling” principles, transforms passive viewing into active learning, helping children imitate and produce new sounds and words with confidence. By integrating Speech Blubs into your holiday crafting traditions, you’re not just making ornaments; you’re fostering a love for communication, building foundational skills, and creating lasting memories. We believe in providing an effective, immediate, and joyful solution for children needing speech support, helping them unlock their full communicative potential.

This Christmas, empower your child with the gift of confident communication. Don’t miss out on the incredible value and comprehensive features that come with our Yearly plan. It includes a 7-day free trial, the bonus Reading Blubs app, and priority support, ensuring you have everything you need to support your child’s development.

Ready to make this holiday season a turning point in your child’s communication journey? Download Speech Blubs on the App Store or Google Play today, choose the Yearly plan, and unlock all the magic of expressive communication for your little one!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What age are these Christmas crafts suitable for?

These crafts are generally suitable for children ranging from 2 to 10 years old, with modifications for complexity. We’ve divided the suggestions into “Young Children (Ages 2-5)” for simpler, process-oriented crafts, and “Older Kids (Ages 6-10)” for activities that require more fine motor control, patience, and planning. Always adapt the complexity to your child’s individual developmental stage and interests, focusing on supervision and safety for younger children, especially with small parts or sharp objects.

Q2: How exactly can crafts help with speech development?

Crafts provide a natural, engaging environment for language learning. They encourage vocabulary expansion (naming colors, shapes, materials, actions), practice following single and multi-step directions, facilitate expressive language through describing creations, and build conversational turn-taking skills. The hands-on nature makes learning concrete and memorable, linking words to real-world objects and actions. By having a tangible product, children have a direct topic to discuss and describe, making communication more purposeful and fun.

Q3: How often should we do crafts with our child to see communication benefits?

Consistency is key, but it doesn’t mean crafting every day. Even one to two dedicated craft sessions a week, with intentional communication prompts, can be highly beneficial. The most important aspect is the quality of the interaction, not just the quantity. Focus on engaging your child in conversation, asking open-ended questions, and modeling language during the activity. Short, focused sessions where you are fully present and communicative are more effective than long, unstructured ones.

Q4: How does Speech Blubs integrate with hands-on activities like crafts?

Speech Blubs complements hands-on crafts by providing targeted communication practice and reinforcement. You can use the app before crafting to introduce or review vocabulary (e.g., animal sounds before making a reindeer), during the activity for quick pronunciation models or visual cues related to actions or objects, and after the craft to encourage descriptive language and storytelling about the finished product. Our “video modeling” method makes learning engaging and active, ensuring that the screen time supports rather than replaces hands-on interaction, providing a powerful supplement to real-world communication opportunities.