Age Appropriate Crafts For Disabled Adults
Adults with Disabilities Have Options for Hobby and Craft Ideas
Apr 19, 2009
Too often, adults with mental disabilities are treated as perpetual children. Without thinking, caretakers give these adults craft supplies and projects that more appropriate for young children. There are crafts and hobbies that any adult can enjoy, and by giving disabled adults options, they can connect better with others who share the same pastimes. Some craft supplies for adults and professionals may seem more expensive than their child-appropriate counterparts, but caretakers should view supplies in terms of quality, and better supplies can sometimes unleash a person’s creativity.
Resources for Adults Who Like to Color
Children's crayons and chalk can be put away in favor of colored pencils, markers, pens, paints, or even professional quality crayons. Craft supply stores and even discount stores like Wal-Mart carry high-end art supplies such as watercolor pencils, oil pastel crayons, and other items.
After finding the right tools, crafters can then jump into the large selection of coloring books and coloring pages geared for adults. There are many websites with free, printable pages that can bring out the creativity of any adult. A good start to finding these is to type terms such as coloring mandalas or advanced coloring pages into any search engine.
For those looking for coloring books, Dover Publications has a wide selection of coloring books for all ages, with a wide variety of subjects, including history, animals, artistic designs, and cultures. These books can be found at their website, at other online retailers, or even craft and hobby stores.
Scrapbooking as a Learning Tool
Few hobbies for adults have caught on like the wildfire that is scrapbooking. There are clubs, classes, magazines, and even videos to help anyone who wants to learn more about how to preserve memories this way.
But not only is a scrapbook a way to keep photos and mementos, it's a way for those with disabilities to learn skills and explore their creativity. At the heart of most scrapbooks is a subject in which the person is most interested in. Ideas range from family to pets to travel experiences. Almost any subject can be turned into a book.
Scrapbooks create the opportunity to learn more about that subject. For example, if someone wants to learn more about a place they want to travel to, he or she can begin the scrapbook with pictures and magazine articles or brochures about that place, continue with pages that show how they are planning for their trip, such as lists of items to pack or a budget for souvenirs. Then, they can finish off the book with pictures, receipts, or other memento of their time on the trip.
This can also be an opportunity to teach someone about photography and have them try their hand at taking pictures. Even if the crafter cannot take photographs, he or she can still use pictures from magazines, or use those they have drawn or colored.
Beading and Making Jewelry
Many adults with disabilities find enjoyment in beading. Stringing beads to make necklaces and bracelets is a good way to relax as well as make something to wear and show to others. In addition to being an artistic expression, beading can enhance motor and mechanical skills. But few adults would proudly wear a finished necklace made of cheap plastic or pony beads.
Beads can be made from all types of materials, such as wood, metal, glass, or clay. Many of these types of beads can be found in packages that are inexpensive, and can be mixed to create beautiful crafts or pieces of jewelry. Crafters can find some beads, such as wooden beads, that are large and easy to handle but still beautiful enough to make a necklace for an adult.
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