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Sunday, September 30, 2012

Guiding Creativity Workshops Using Crafts for Older Adults


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Creativity Matters blog is licensed under a Creative Commons AAttribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at agingandcreativity.blogspot.com


I am providing a session titled: The Creative Experience- Profiles of Courage and Passion on Tuesday, October 2nd  at the 2012 Regional Conference on Aging hosted by the Philadelphia Corporation of Aging in Philadelphia. . The following information focuses on Creativity Workshops using Crafts and is an excerpt from that presentation.

In general, I recommend that the leader assess projects for these attributes to provide a successful workshop.

        Interesting: Materials should trigger curiosity and encourage  willingness to engage

        Engaging: Materials/project keeps participants involved

        Clear Objectives: Explanation of tools, techniques and goal; Guidance NOT Duplication of examples shown

        Success Driven: Encourage satisfaction and completion

        Socially Supportive Community: Community and  individual respect

        Project Appropriate for Participants with respect to:
        Gender
        Physical ability
        Cognitive issues
        Psychological concerns
To encourage safe crafting, it is important to develop projects with attention to these guidelines:
        No Sharp Tools
        No Precision
        No Tiny Pieces
        No Lengthy Projects
        No Complex Directions
       No Difficult Learning Curve
Examples of techniques that may be considered in a project include:
        Wrapping
       Weaving
        Knotting
        Threading
        Gluing
        Cutting (with assistance/supervision if appropriate)
        Stamping
        Rubbing
       Tearing
The participants are likely to realize positive results because the workshop experience:
 
        Builds knowledge of
        Materials
        Techniques
        Increases
        Self Esteem
        Socialization
        Fosters
        Independence
        Problem Solving
        Expands
        Creative Capability
        Confidence
For additional information or speaker and/or workshop requests, please contact Judith Zausner at Judith@caringcrafts.com
"Arts  and aging is neither about arts, nor just about aging. Rather, it is about creativity and positive engagement—that is, creativity as both a goal and a process for shaping the self and society.“
-Steven T. Dahlberg
International Centre for Creativity & Imagination