Perfectly Crafty? Not so much.

Many books about creativity for kids suffer from what I'll call Martha Stewart syndrome - they show lots of super cute, creative, PERFECT projects that are not going to happen at my house.

I have one book that shows this adorable little tote for your art supplies. I think you are supposed to carry your stuff with you on vacations and such... it's covered in bright construction paper, and has this cute face with googly eyes on the lid. Then, it even has perfect little rope handles that come out the sides so that you can tote it! Yay!

All I can see when I look at this project is the expression of frustration that will appear on my daughter's face as she says, "I want to make it like THAT one!" Sigh. Even if you managed to make a close approximation, the first trip in the car would be the end of its pristine Martha Stewart-ness.

Here's an idea (and why I have the aforementioned book in my house in the first place): Use those crafty books to find out HOW to make projects work, like how to make a bird feeder that will hang straight or a box divider that won't fall out - but DON'T show the finished product to your kid. Instead, make a functional "naked" version of the project, and then let him or her have at it with the decorations. There's the mechanics, and then there's the decorating part. If your kid is a little older, he or she might also like adding some "customizations" to the mechanical aspect of the project as well.

But give kids something to start with, so there's not this shining picture out there to which all comparisons are made. Trying to make something look like a craft project that was made by a professional for use in a book just isn't fair to a kid. But giving him or her something to make an individual statement can be both fun and informative. What does your child really think a bird feeder should look like? What are the current favorite colors and materials?

And, I must say that some of the designs that kids come up with on their own are MUCH cooler than something in a book - because you can see a kid's personality all over it.