If you\’ve been doing beadwork for any length of time at all, you know how engrossing it can be. If you have children, then you\’re probably always on the lookout for new free beading ideas, so you can share your hobby with them. Below are a trio of beadwork ideas that can help you do just that!

1 – Stick with Kits – They make beading project kits that are actually quite involved, so these should please even older children. The advantages of a beading project kit are essentially twofold. First, the pattern and procedure have already been worked out, and there\’s a clear picture of what the finished product should look like, giving your children a clearly defined goal to aim for. Second, all the materials you need to complete the design are included in the kit, so there\’s nothing else to buy. A third advantage is apparent if you are working with multiple children. Kits take the guesswork, arguing, and fussing about who\’s going to do what out of the equation, saving you an enormous amount of time!

2 – If you\’re working with younger children, do yourself a favor and check out Pony Beads! You may not want very young children playing in (and possibly spilling, or worse, eating!) your supplies, and Pony Beads make a nice alternative. Safe and attractive, they give your kids their own supplies to work with, while preserving yours, and there are all sorts of kits and project books available, making this an excellent choice!

3 – Similar to Pony Beads would be Perler Beads. Again, these are wonderfully suited for younger children, but I\’ve seen some kits that would keep even older children quite happy, so if you\’ve got kids between the ages of say, 7 – 12, definitely keep Perler Beads in mind, and again, there are plenty of kits and project books available, so there\’s never any shortage of things to do with the supplies you buy!

Whether you opt to use one of the ideas above or not, especially when dealing with younger children, it\’s probably a wise investment to pick up a bead tray for each child you\’re working with. Even if you don\’t use them yourself, it will certainly minimize messes and help keep things more organized!

And, if you DO have an interest in any of the above, you\’ll be pleased to know that both Perler and Pony bead supplies can be had at quite reasonable prices, which is nice in three ways. First, it goes easy on your wallet. Second, it preserves your own supplies, and third, it gives your kids their own \”domain\” to work with and in. You win all around!

As you can see from just the three beadwork ideas presented here, there are all kinds of ways to safely involve your kids in your hobby, without risking your sanity, and the list above is only the beginning! The \’net is filled with free beading ideas, and there are all sorts of ways you can get your children (of all ages) involved in a meaningful way!