How to Make a Dream Catcher

Why dreams and goals are important to have?

Dreams are important for all ages. Dreams encompass goals and more. They give purpose, direction and meaning to life. They aid in shaping life and building the future.

Dreams for young children, develop an intrinsic resilience to help them realise they can do anything they want as long as they set their heart and mind in achieving those dreams. Through encouraging children to pursue their dreams we can also assist them in learning a very important life skill: the ‘never give up’ spirit. While dreams/goals can be challenging to achieve, we must always preserve and try because the outcome in the end is both meaningful and rewarding.

What are dream catchers?

In some cultures, a dream catcher is a handmade willow hoop, on which is a woven web and feathers. Native American cultures believe that both good and bad dreams fill the air at night. Dream catchers are usually hung over a bed for protection, they are hung above the beds of children to protect them from bad dreams.

Putting them together

Knowing how important dreams and goals are at all ages in life, it is vital to start children of at a young age to practice working towards achieving their dreams and setting goals to achieve them. This will form a powerful lifelong habit that promotes a “can-do” attitude. In order to make it more personal and fulfilling, get your child to make their own dream catchers so that it has their own personal touch and their creativity in it, which will make them want to look at it and feel good about it. Get them to write out their dreams. Writing out their dreams will activate parts of the brain that help synthesize information and retain more of it. And this will help in the process of remembering their dreams/goals and working towards them at their own pace.

How to make a dream catcher?

You will need:

• A hollow circle

• Markers

• Paint

• Crayons

• Coloured pencils

• White glue

• Sequins/stickers

• Glitter

• A roll of coloured yarn

• Scissors

• Transparent cello tape roll

• Green coloured paper

Steps:

1. First, cut out a hollow circle from a hard A4 paper. You could use coloured paper or white paper to cut out the hollow circle.

2. Once done, decorate the hollow circle. You could use markers, paint, crayons, coloured pencils or you could use stickers, white glue to stick on sequins and put some glitter. Put the hollow circle aside for it to dry.

3. Next, use your choice of coloured yarn and small pieces of string. A length of approximately 10cm would be good. Have 20 pieces of 10cm strings.

4. Thereafter, cut out 4 strings from the yarn roll that have a length of 20cm.

5. Now, turn over the hollow circle and use the transparent cello tape to stick on the ends of the 10cm long strings across the circle to form a spider’s web. Repeat this step this all the 20 pieces are attached.

6. Then, on the same side of the hollow circle, use the transparent cello tape again to stick one end of the 20cm long string at the bottom end of hollow circle. Repeat this step till over 4 strings are attached.

7. Lastly, use the green coloured paper and cut out the outline of a leaf. You will need 4 leaves. On each leaf, write down one dream/goal. Once done, attach the leaves to the 4 strings using the transparent cello tape. Each 20cm string gets one leaf stuck on.

8. You have your dream catcher now!

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