Crafts for the Mentally Challenged

Paper

Colored paper can be transformed into a variety of crafts and good times for mentally challenged individuals. Use a paper bag and cut out shapes to create a hand puppet or create a small kite with popsicle sticks formed in a cross and covered with paper. One easy project that will light up the room is to create a smiling sun. Instruct the individuals to paint a paper plate yellow and draw on a face with black paint or markers. Then, on a separate piece of yellow construction paper, help them trace their hand-prints or show them how they can do it themselves. Assist in making and cutting out about 12 hand-prints per person and gluing them on the back of the paper plate like the rays of the sun.

Working with beads is a craft for mentally challenged people where they can wear the final product. Hand out various shapes of pasta that can be strung on strings of yarn to make a necklace or bracelet. For more high-functioning individuals, help them create their own beads from paper. Start by snipping colored paper into thin triangle pieces about six to 10 inches long. Roll up the paper toward the the thinnest point and secure with a dab of glue or tape. Just ensure there is enough room in the middle to string the bead on thread once it's rolled.

Painting is a timeless craft that can be enjoyed by mentally challenged people of all ages and abilities. Set up a large piece of white paper and flat bowls of paint and allow the individuals to create works of art using their hands. Most mentally challenged people will enjoy the fun of painting with marbles, too. Begin by plopping a few marbles in a plastic cup of colored poster paint. When they're colored, drop the wet marbles on a piece of paper set in a cookie sheet. Roll the pan back and forth to create abstract designs with the rolling marbles.

Get creative with mentally challenged individuals by using a variety of materials to make crafts. Instruct them to draw the outline of a picture with crayons and then fill it in with watercolors. They should enjoy watching the crayons hold all the watercolors in place. Create collages using mixed materials by providing cloth scraps, yarn, stickers, buttons, computer disks and anything else small and interesting looking. Invite the mentally challenged people to glue on the objects to a piece of paper, flower pot or another item they want to decorate with a collage.