DIY Dreamcatcher

Today’s craft is inspired by nature, different cultures and the great outdoors. Now that the weather is getting a little warmer we are spending more time outdoors and the boys and I have been enjoying plenty of outdoor exploration, enjoying early Spring and the different plants and flowers that are starting to blossom.

This DIY Dreamcatcher craft encompasses so many different elements of early learning – including creative thought, cultural awareness, discussions around nature and seasons, fine motor skills and construction processes.

It was truly a wonderful opportunity to explore another culture with my boys as we read up on the fascinating tradition behind dreamcatchers.

Native Americans believe that the night air is filled with both good and bad dreams. They believe that the dreamcatcher should be hung near your bed, to catch the dreams as they float by. The good dreams know how to pass through the dream catcher, slipping through the holes and travelling down to the person who’s asleep nearby. The bad dreams get tangled in the dream catcher and are destroyed by the light of dawn.

Our DIY dreamcatcher is made in a triangular shape whilst the traditional dream catcher is a circle made using a hoop of willow because the hoop symbolises unity and strength for the Native Americans.The boys understood the concept of shapes being symbolic as they could relate to the pentagon shape being Superman’s symbol and the oval shape being Batman’s symbol!

This DIY dreamcatcher craft is so simple and easy to make. Brilliant for creative thought as you can use any material you have on hand to decorate your dream catcher.  You could use feathers, beads or even washi tape.

Sleep tight beneath your beautiful dreamcatcher and may sweet dreams always find their way to you!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED FOR THE DIY DREAMCATCHER:

• Sticks and twigs
• Dried leaves
• Gumnuts
• Assorted coloured yarn
• Assorted mini pom poms

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE DIY DREAMCATCHER:

• Paint sticks with acrylic paint as preferred.
• Use the coloured yarn to tie the painted sticks to form a triangle.
• Wrap the coloured yarn across the triangle to form a web. We used blue and yellow yarn.
• Use the coloured yarn to hang the painted leaves and gumnuts to the triangle.
• Stick on some mini pom poms on the web of the dream catcher.

* This post and all associated images have been supplied by the lovely Rossa from Curious Little People.  Follow her on Instagram for more creative inspirations!