Hi, my name is Bel!
Crafting Connections was inspired by my two children and the children I have had the privilege to share a classroom with. The deep, meaningful connections that I have had the opportunity to experience were formed through respect, creative flow and intentional conversations. I am passionate about early childhood development and supporting our children in a nurturing, gentle way.
Crafting Connections:
Our mission is to inspire children to create and connect by unplugging from screens and engaging in fun, hands-on STEAM crafts. Through creativity and collaboration, kids build confidence and essential social-emotional skills — all while forming meaningful connections. We aim for every child to feel celebrated, to leave inspired, and to shine with pride over their one-of-a-kind creation that captures the magic of their creativity and achievement.
In our fast paced, digital world, our children are craving real-world connections. Children today often spend 5-7 hours (or more) daily on screens for school, games, or entertainment. This consumption creates an imbalance in our children. Too much screen time is linked to attention issues, anxiety, sleep problems, and reduced empathy. Even if kids are "interacting" online, it’s not the same as face-to-face communication. Their brain, body, and emotions need tactile, physical experiences that screens can’t replicate.
This is where Crafting Connections comes in! We are dedicated to fostering creativity and connections within our children’s community. Crafting naturally offers an environment where children can focus, slow down, and express themselves freely. Crafting brings back the human connection and reawakens hands-on creativity, which is essential for brain development and emotional well-being. Each class is thoughtfully and intentionally created to cultivate relationships and build community.
Crafting Connections embeds SEL into our classes organically, rather than as its own subject. Our focus is on the fun and engaging craft project in front of us. This gives us the opportunity to use everyday moments to nurture key competencies. We model kindness, empathy, and respect. The language we use is positive and gentle. Each individual and each situation deserves and receives our most generous interpretation. By scaffolding children through their own frustration or peer-peer conflicts, the children learn and familiarize themselves with various social-emotional skills that will benefit them for a lifetime.
Our classes offer a powerful opportunity to foster deep parent-child connections and peer-peer connections while supporting your child’s development. Come play, create, and watch the magic bloom!
