Four Crafts to Try with Teens

There is something special about a room full of teens quietly concentrating, helping each other learn, and then finally bubbling over with excitement as they share their works in progress. Crafts, whether incorporated into a larger program or taught as a workshop, give anxious teens something to do with their hands and a built-in reason to connect with each other. A teen can leave a craft program with a cool project and a concrete skill they can continue to develop. Budget permitting, they may also have the tools in hand to begin their next project.

Craft programs are also a way to expand services for teens beyond just the Teen or Youth Librarian. In most libraries, staff have a wealth of skills that don’t always come into play in their work. Asking staff to share their knowledge demystifies teen patrons for staff. It also creates additional points of contact for teens.

Below are some of my favourite crafts from teen programs over the last two years.

Supplies needed: felting needles (100/$16), wool roving ($4-15/colour; can be used over multiple programs), dollar-store dish sponges, duct tape to protect fingers

Why it’s great: Needle felting is easy to learn, forgiving of mistakes, and teens can start making their own designs right away. Staff can also easily learn it from a Youtube tutorial. Plus, there is something therapeutic about a craft in which you stab your project repeatedly! In addition to making 3D projects like food and characters, the same skills can be used to decorate and create fun patches on wool clothing. It is fast enough to learn that it can be incorporated into a larger program, but it is engaging enough that teens can spend a full program only felting. Plan for a stretching break! If teens are taking their needles home, they will need a way to transport them safely, such as inside a wide straw with the ends folded.