Glue Gun Fun
There’s no substitution for hands-on exploration. Letting kids (safely) experiment with real tools, such as a glue gun, provides opportunities to build confidence, independence, creative thinking skills and more.
Whether bringing an idea to life using craft materials or just learning how a tool like a glue gun works, kids see many benefits as they are allowed to lead, learn and explore freely.
For Ages: 5 and up
What You’ll Need
- Glue gun (Parent Tip! Look for a low temperature version for added safety)
- Hot glue sticks
- Small craft items: Buttons, shells, pipe cleaners, feathers, popsicle sticks, cloth scraps, corks, pompoms, etc.
- Toilet paper roll, disposable cup, paper plate, cardboard or other item to use as a project base
What You’ll Do
- Safety first! Make sure your child knows not to touch the tip of the glue gun.
- Plug in the glue gun and allow it to warm up for several minutes.
- Lay out the craft materials and let your child start gluing. There’s no right or wrong way, so encourage your child to let their imagination run wild.
If you’re struggling with the open-endedness of this activity and need some prompts to get started, here are a few of our favorites (along with some follow-up questions you can ask to keep the learning going).
- Create your own monster friend. Then ask about its story. What does it eat? Where does it live? What does it smell like?
- Build the tallest structure you can. Then ask: Who is taller, you or the structure? Can it hold the weight of an apple? What materials are best for building high?
- Make a piece of art for your home. Then ask: What materials did you like using the best? What was hardest to work with?
What Kids Learn
How to Support the Play
- There is no “right way” to do things.
- View mistakes and bumps in the road for what they really are — opportunities to learn.
- When a child asks for help, guide without taking over. Nudge them along with suggestions framed as questions. “What would happen if…?”
- When a child says “I can’t do it,” resist the urge to fix it. Try guiding them with questions: “What have you tried so far?” and “Why do you think it’s not working?”