Sawubona, crafty folks of SA! With Youth Day just around the corner (the 16^th of June, for anyone wondering) it’s time to celebrate the vibrant spirit of South Africa’s young people. At PNA, we believe that creativity knows no bounds, and what better way to commemorate this special day than by making exciting crafts with your little ones that honour our beautiful nation? Get ready to dive into a world of fun and imagination as we explore five fantastic patriotic crafts for kids. Let’s make this Youth Day one to remember!

Craft #1: South African Flag Handprint Art

Materials Needed:

• White paper or canvas
• Red, green, blue, black, and yellow paint
• Paintbrushes
• Water and a palette for mixing colours
• Wet wipes (to clean those colourful little hands!)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Start by pouring small amounts of each paint colour onto your palette.
2. Dip your child’s hand into the red paint and firmly press it onto the paper or canvas to create the top stripe of the flag.
3. Rinse off the red paint from your child’s hand and repeat the process with green and then blue for the remaining stripes.
4. Use a paintbrush and black paint to draw a thick horizontal line at the bottom of the flag, representing the band.

Finally, add a small yellow triangle at the hoist side of the flag to complete the iconic design.

Craft #2: Paper Plate African Mask

Materials Needed:

• Paper plates
• Coloured construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue or tape
• Markers or crayons
• Feathers, sequins, or any decorative items you’d like to add.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cut out the centre of the paper plate to create a mask shape.
2. Use coloured construction paper to cut out various shapes and patterns, such as triangles, circles, and zigzags. Be creative here! The more variety, the better.
3. Glue or tape the paper cut-outs onto the mask to create a vibrant and unique African-inspired design.
4. Let your child’s creativity shine by adding colourful details with markers or crayons. You can even pop on extra accessories like feathers, beads or porcupine quills.

For an extra touch of flair, glue on feathers, sequins, or any other decorative items you have on hand.

Craft #3: Rainbow Nation Collage

Materials Needed:

• Colourful paper or cardboard
• Scissors
• Glue or tape
• Magazines or printed images of people from diverse backgrounds
• Markers or coloured pencils (optional).

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cut out various shapes and colours from paper or cardstock to represent the different elements of South Africa’s diverse culture. You can include shapes like houses, animals, trees, and landmarks.
2. Encourage your child to cut out images of people from magazines or printouts, showcasing the beautiful faces that make up our Rainbow Nation. It’s important for little ones to realise that South Africans can look all sorts of ways!
3. Arrange and glue the shapes and images onto a large piece of paper to create a collage that celebrates the diversity of South Africa.

Feel free to add some personal touches with markers or coloured pencils if you’d like. This might be a great place to integrate words and writing.

Craft #4: Beaded South African Flag Bracelets

Materials Needed:

• Red, green, blue, black, and yellow beads
• Elastic cord or thread
• Scissors
• Tape (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of elastic cord or thread to fit comfortably around your child’s wrist. Add a few extra centimetres to allow for tying.
2. Tape one end of the cord/thread to a flat surface or hold it with your fingers to keep it steady.
3. String beads onto the cord/thread in the following order: red, green, blue, black, yellow, repeating the pattern until you reach the desired length. This will match our national flag!
4. Once all the beads are on the cord/thread, tie the ends securely in a knot.
5. Trim any excess cord/thread, and your South African flag bracelet is ready to be worn with pride! Viva South Africa!

Craft #5: Protea Handprint Bouquet

Materials Needed:

• Construction paper or cardstock in various colours
• Paint in the colours of your choice
• Paintbrushes
• Scissors
• Glue or tape

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Have your child dip their hand into paint and make handprints on different coloured construction paper or cardstock. Each handprint will represent a protea flower.
2. Let the handprints dry, and then cut around them to create individual King Protea shapes.
3. Cut out stems and leaves from green construction paper or cardstock.
4. Arrange the handprint flowers on a large sheet of paper or cardstock, glueing or taping them in place along with the stems and leaves to create a beautiful bouquet.
5. Encourage your child to add additional details, like grass or a sunny background, using markers or crayons. Maybe even some members of the Big Five!

As we celebrate Youth Day, let’s embrace the vibrancy and diversity that make South Africa so extraordinary. These patriotic crafts for kids provide an opportunity to honour our nation’s youth through creativity and exploration.

Remember, this is just the beginning of your kids’ crafting journey! At PNA, we have a wide range of craft supplies and inspiration to help you continue the celebration all year round. So, let your imagination run wild, visit your nearest PNA outlet, and let’s make magical memories together! Find your closest PNA using our nifty store locator.

Happy Youth Day everyone!