Stores and libraries offer workshops for children

Bring out your glue, scissors and as much paper as you can get your hands on to make the season brighter with crafts for kids. Think it's just about the craft or making a memory? Kids crafts have become a multimillion-dollar industry, and for good reason.

"Kids love being creative and take so much pride in showing off their projects," said Gracie Lucero, district manager of Michael craft stores. "That's why we offer a variety of kid's classes, free and low-cost crafting events and family craft time throughout the year for parents and kids to drop in, learn a new skill, use their imaginations and leave with a completed craft to take home. During the month of December, they can come into our stores to make one-of-a-kind holiday gifts and decorations."

Crafts allow kids to explore ideas, learn by moving, touching, and developing, said Shana Harrington, young people's library department head at the Sunrise Library

"For younger kids, it not only gives them one-on-one time with a parent, they also are developing fine motor skills, such as holding and using scissors, or holding crayons and drawing," Harrington said. "They also learn concepts like the names of things, colors, shapes, etc. All these things prepare them for school and help them excel in kindergarten."

For older kids, crafts are a huge part of the important STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning.

"When kids get to experience STEM concepts hands-on, they retain the information better," she said.

Putting together Gak, better known as slime, is a popular activity for the under-5 crowd when learning about states of matter and polymers.

"They get to see a non-Newtonian compound in action, and that resonates with them," Harrington said.

The one-on-one time spent doing crafts creates memories that don't include any kind of screen time or outside entertainment.

"They also have a tangible result from the craft time," she said.

Including children's handprints or footprints in a craft marks the passage of time, and creates a lasting piece of personal memorabilia. Gifting the craft can also create a bond with family members that are far away, which can strengthen those relationships.

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District makes sure to be inclusive.

"We do a lot of winter-themed crafts, such as snowflake wreaths, snowmen, penguins, snow globes," Harrington said.

Several of the district's branches have winter craft buffets where kids can make several crafts for themselves or to give to others.

"One of our most popular crafts is making a giant paper snowflake," Harrington said. "We have older kids and parents asking how to make them. Honestly, anything that can relate back to the movie 'Frozen' is going to be huge as well."

Michaels has a few holiday craft workshops at its five local locations:

— Clothespin Characters, Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-noon. Create a fun clothespin friend to decorate the tree. Ages 3 and up. $2 per session, includes supplies.

— Family Gingerbread Housebuilding Workshop, Dec. 5, 1-4 p.m. Wilton instructors help kids and parents assemble a gingerbread house. Buy the kit, and the supplies are included.

— Perler Santa Belt Coaster, Dec. 12, 10 a.m.-noon. Make a festive Santa belt coaster. Ages 3 and up. $2 per session, includes supplies.

The library district has many opportunities for families to get together for a fun craft day. Tickets will be given out 30 minutes before the program starts.

Clark County Library

1401 E. Flamingo Road, 702-507-3436

— DIY Teens: Create-a-Gift; Dec. 8 at 3 p.m. Select from one of two projects to make as a gift to give to someone this holiday season.

Enterprise Library

25 E. Shelbourne Ave., 702-507-3764

— Winter Holidays Pajama Party; Dec. 14 at 5 p.m.; ages up to 11. Participants will read stories, sing songs and make crafts.

— Holiday Fun With Babies; Dec.17 at 11 a.m.; ages to 1½. Holiday stories, songs and activities with babies and take home a holiday craft.

Las Vegas Library

833 Las Vegas Blvd. North, 702-507-3549

— Snow Slime; Dec.3 at 4:30 p.m.; ages 6-11. Make your own snow slime.

— Winter Fiesta; Dec.12 at 12 p.m.; ages to 11. Listen to bilingual winter stories, dance to festive winter songs and create winter crafts.

— Snow Much Fun; Dec. 15 at 11:30 a.m.; ages 1½ to 3. A snow-filled story time and a snow craft.

— Make and Take Winter Craft; Dec. 15 at 4 p.m., Dec. 17 at 4 p.m., Dec. 18 at 4 p.m., Dec. 19 at noon, Dec. 20 at 2 pm.; ages up to 11. Make a winter craft for yourself or give as a holiday gift.

— Do You Want to Build a Snowman? Dec. 16 and 18 at 11:30 a.m.; ages 3-5. Get ready for the winter season by listening to stories, dancing and singing, and making a snowman craft.

Rainbow Library

3150 N. Buffalo Drive, 702-507-3712

— Winter Craft Buffet; Dec. 15 at 4 p.m.; ages 3-11. Welcome winter with some cozy crafts.

Sahara West Library

9600 W. Sahara Ave., 702-507-3644

— Recycled Book Wreath; Dec. 15 at 4 p.m.; ages 12-17. Create a fun winter wreath for the holiday season using an old book. Registration required.

Spring Valley Library

4280 S. Jones Blvd., 702-507-3823

— Holiday Craft Buffet; Dec. 13 at 4 p.m., Dec. 15 at 11:30 a.m., Dec. 16 at 11:30 a.m., Dec. 16 at 4 p.m., Dec. 17 at 11:30 a.m., Dec. 18 at 4 p.m., Dec.19 at 11 a.m.; ages to 11. Make a craft to take home or give as a gift.

— Teen Holiday Craft Buffet; Dec. 17 at 3:30 p.m.; grades 6-12. Make a gift to share with that special someone.

Summerlin Library

1771 Inner Circle Drive, 702-507-3865

— Snow Day; Dec. 6 at 3:15 p.m.; ages to 11. Stories and crafts about snowmen and snowflakes.

— Super Duper Craft Club; Dec. 15 at 4 p.m.; ages 6-11. Crafting inspired by the topic of the month.

— Silly Scarves; Dec. 19 at 11 a.m.; ages to 11. Wear your favorite scarf and stay warm with winter-themed stories, songs and a craft.

Sunrise Library

5400 Harris Ave., 702-507-3905

— Winter Craft Buffet; Dec. 16 at 4 p.m.; ages 1½-3. Winter-themed crafting fun.

West Charleston Library

6301 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-507-3947

— Pine Cone Owls; Dec. 5 at 3 p.m.; ages to 11. Get crafty and make fluffy owls out of pine cones.

— Holiday Craft Buffet; Dec. 14 at 11:30 a.m.; ages to 5. Make some fun crafts that you can give as gifts to your family and friends.

— Holiday Craft Buffet; Dec. 15 at 10:30 a.m.; ages to 1½. Make some fun crafts that you can give as gifts to your family and friends.

— Holiday Craft Buffet; Dec. 15 at 4:30 p.m.; ages to 6-11. Make some fun crafts that you can give as gifts to your family and friends.

— Holiday Craft Buffet; Dec. 16 at 6 p.m.; ages to 11. Make some fun crafts that you can give as gifts to your family and friends.

— Holiday Craft Buffet; Dec. 17 at 10:30 a.m.; ages to 1½-3. Make some fun crafts that you can give as gifts to your family and friends.

— Holiday Craft Buffet; Dec. 18 at 10:30 a.m.; ages to 3-5. Make some fun crafts that you can give as gifts to your family and friends.

— Holiday Craft Buffet; Dec. 19 at 3 p.m.; ages to 11. Make some fun crafts that you can give as gifts to your family and friends.

West Las Vegas Library

951 W. Lake Mead Blvd., 702-507-3983

— Celebrate the Holidays with a Craft Buffet; Dec. 17 at 6 p.m.; ages to 5. Make some gifts for the holidays.

Whitney Library

5175 E. Tropicana Ave., 702-507-4015

— Winter Holiday Craft Buffet; Dec. 7 at 4 p.m. Decorate for the winter holidays with a variety of fun and festive crafts.

— Winter Nights, Winter Lights; Dec. 10 at 4:30 p.m.; ages to 11. Discuss winter festivals celebrated around the world, share stories, games, and crafts and participate in a special candlelight parade through the library.