Crafting with Seniors

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Today I conducted my first crafting class with the members of the Dorchester Senior Center where I saw some familiar faces from last week and met a few new ones. By way of introducing myself to them, I brought along some samples of my previous work so everyone could acquaint themselves with what I do and to show them the variety of possibilities inherent in card making. Because Friday afternoon is somewhat slow at the center, only a few members stayed around for the class. This actually turned out to be a good thing. It allowed me to give everyone individualized attention but, more importantly, it allowed me to observe and slowly maneuver through their physical limitations. This information will help me put together projects that suits their abilities and gives them a sense of accomplishment.

I had pre-cut most of the pieces at home and organized everything into individual kits that I distributed to everyone along with a set of instructions and a photo of the completed project. However I deliberately left some things undone so I could see how they carried out the necessary tasks. Right away I discovered that a most of them can't see well enough or do not have the dexterity to cut anything out with a scissors. Also they tend to move more slowly than I anticipated. This is good information for me to have for future crafting sessions. Now I know where I have to make some modifications to allow everyone full access to my projects.

This was a new learning experience for me that I found very satisfying. The seniors came away with a pretty little card and I came away with a whole new perspective. To see the card they created this week, check out the blog post just before this one.

Ballo ergo sum
- Gitana, the Creative Diva