Piper Cleaner People

Crafting together has mental health benefits for kids individually & benefits the parent/child relationship, as well. For a child, making a project like this one can be gratifying & build self-esteem. Working alongside their caregiver, they feel connected & appreciated, especially when they don’t feel pressured to do things exactly “right”. As they work together, they can have healthy conversations about anything – even those difficult topics that might otherwise be hard to discuss.
https://www.onoursleeves.org/mental-wellness-tools-guides/conversation-starters


​SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Chenille stems
• Pony beads
• 1" wood beads (with faces or blank)
• Scissors
• Fine-tip markers (if wood beads are blank)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Line up 3 chenille stems.
2. Twist together at the middle and spread stems to make a body shape - arms, legs and 2 stems for head/hair.
3. Slide wood head bead onto 2 chenille stems, all the way to the twist.
4. Make a hair style with the excess stem above the head, refer to photo or freestyle it with beads.
5. Slide 5 pony beads onto both leg stems, all the way to the twist (under the wood head bead) to make the body.
6. Slide 5 pony beads onto each leg.
7. Add one more for a foot and wrap stem back around a few times to finish it. Trim any excess.
8. Add 5 pony beads to each arm.
9. Add one more for the hand and wrap stem back around a few times to finish. Trim any excess.
10. Add face details if beads are blank.

JOANN HACKS:

• Add character with wiggle eyes or sequins.
• Cut straws and use in place of pony beads.