Have fun with this Mobile Phone Craft for Kids, crafting this hands-on interactive smartphone.
Set your scene with pop-in cards!
Understanding Smartphones.
Smartphones are the thing to have these days, and where would we be without them?
They have everything you need on one device. Furthermore, you can open up a world of knowledge, advice, solutions and answers to your questions, with one single touch!
WHAT I HAVE IN MIND!
So I thought it would be fun to do an activity showing a ‘Mobile phone craft for kids’ using some of your recycled packaging!
Read on to find out more!
SMARTPHONES FUNCTIONALITY!
FIRST OF ALL, LET’S HAVE A LOOK AT THE PROS……………
This is why kids today are drawn to them: They serve a greater purpose. They are not just an accessory, a fashionable gimmick, or the latest model in that brand; nonetheless, they are a means ‘to go to’.
LET’S TAKE A LOOK!
Firstly, you have some standard icons, thereafter you can build up by adding further apps of your choice.
Here is a collection of what kind of information our smartphone can offer you:-
- Advice.
- Answers to questions.
- Help with research, useful for students.
- To chat with friends.
- Give and receive messages.
- Different browsers to get online, like Google Search/Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer
- A link to social media.
- Some include:- Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, Twitter, and WhatsApp!
- Language translator.
- Travel information.
- Weather updates.
- Gaming.
- Quizzes
- Watch films.
- Latest news.
- Calculator.
- Shopping channels.
- Downloading recipes.
- Banking.
- Photo gallery.
- The list can continue.
Here are what some of the apps would look like, linking you to one of many social media platforms.
APPS AND MORE!
The list is endless, as you can add apps from retail stores, for quick and easy access.
Google Play, provides digital media for Android smartphones and tablets. It also offers Games, movies, TV shows, e-books and audiobooks.
Moreover, there are endless apps you can download and equip your device.
WHAT IS AN APP?
So what is an app? An app is short for application, a software program designed specifically for smaller devices, and tablets.
It allows users to perform specific tasks on their mobile devices. Apps store their data locally on your mobile, or devices whereas data can be retrieved much more swiftly.
IN ENTERTAINMENT.
Today’s entertainment apps, allow users to download music and videos at a low cost.
ENTERTAINMENT APPS!
Furthermore, entertainment apps, have drastically improved and are readily available.
Therefore, as there is a demand and rise in smartphone access, there will ultimately be a rise in apps and a significant boom in the field of entertainment!
A PRECAUTIONARY NOTE!
ON-LINE SAFETY!
Social media has become easily accessible, and online safety should be addressed with our children.
There should be parental guidance, especially for the very young where online procedures are initiated.
POSSIBLE CONS TO BE AWARE OF!
TOO MUCH MAY NOT BE GOOD FOR YOUR KIDS!
By the same token, if children spend far too much time on their mobile phones, it can ultimately have repercussions!
WHAT PROBLEMS?
It could lead to problems in social-emotional development, obesity, depression, sleep disturbance and anxiety.
ALSO…….
It could promote, aggressive behaviour and affect social and emotional capability.
Check this short video and see why!
A simplified explanation of how kids having too much screen time can ultimately affect your condition socially and emotionally!
Now having said all that highlighting what smartphones can offer us, and taking note of some disadvantages.
let’s have a quick look at the positves!
IT’S ROLE IN EDUCATION!
Let’s look at the benefits of a smartphone in regards to expanding students learning:
- Studying on the go.
- Quicker learning.
- Enhancing knowledge.
- Knowing on hand.
- Coursework work is available whenever they want it.
- Course content is available worldwide.
It is believed combining, that of a traditional teacher and mobile technology, would help to overcome the lack of class resources and a useful partner to aid additional help.
HERE ARE SOME MORE POSITIVES!
Smartphones, are no longer regarded as a distraction, but more of an Educational tool!
Check out what the Education corner has to say!
Like anything, as long as mobile phones are used in moderation limiting the amount of time they are used, they would have served their purpose.
LET’S GET BACK TO CRAFTING!
MY INTENTION!
As I mentioned earlier, within this post, I shall show you how to craft an easy mobile phone craft for kids, using your throw-out packaging!
I will make it larger than normal, so that little hands can access and change removable parts, more easily.
This would be combining a fun craft with a smartphone theme.
At the same time, encourages creativity and problem-solving through crafting!
WHAT’S MORE!
EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS.
- Encourage recycling, kids will learn about reusing materials creatively.
- Prompted language learning, stimulating conversations and reinforcing language skills.
- Enhance creativity, designing and personalizing the smartphone showing artistic expression.
- Boosts imagination, role-playing scenarios with the smartphone encourage imaginative play.
ARE YOU READY?
RESOURCES.
Any coloured packaging with a shiny finish.
Large scissors.
Cutting board/Scalpel.
Coloured felt-tip pens.
Glue stick/double-sided tape.
Acetate/plastic sheet.
Sticky borders. (for neat edging.)
Some items are not shown.
LET’S GET CRAFTING!
A CLOSER LOOK!
Here again are the finished pop-in cards for the smartphone, to see the different styles.
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
I have included a couple of kids’ favourite games, Roblox and three random designs. The Weather, a WhatsApp conversation with Mum and daughter and the final one a Music-themed card.
YOU CHOOSE!
It can be anything you want that would encourage your kids to role-play a scene and talk about it.
SOME TIPS!
WHAT CARD?
- Hold on to any packaging that may have a shiny finish to it.
- Alternatively, brown packaging cardboard will be fine. You can decorate it using stickers, cover it with coloured paper or paint it.
DECIDE ON SIZE.
- Decide how big you would like to craft the smartphone, depending on your child’s capabilities to interchange cards.
- You can draw, print out, or cut out pictures to make the pop-in cards, as fun as possible.
SEE-THROUGH WINDOW.
- If you can’t find acetate, leave it out.
POP-IN CARDS.
- Take note, that when designing the theme on your cards, you will need space to hold and slide the cards into the smartphone, so allow for this, although you can still do graphics in the holding area.
FINAL TOUCHES.
- Decorate the outside of your smartphone however you like. Add stickers, paint or draw on it to personalize it.
STORING CARDS.
- Making a pocket on the back will help to store the cards.
ARE MOBILE PHONES THE MUST HAVE?
The answer is ‘YES’ The majority of young adults, or kids of around 8 years upwards, own a mobile phone!
As I walk to work every morning children who go to senior schools, all possess a smartphone!
WHY DO KIDS DESIRE A MOBILE PHONE?
Kids today, would feel the need to own a mobile phone, purely because it’s necessary.
They would need it to contact their parents, home, grandparents, childminders and friends, at least it’s at their fingertips.
Of course for emergencies, pick-up, lost or running late to get home.
Also owning a mobile phone gives them the security they need!
LET’S SIDE-RACK!
Let’s not forget that kids with mobile phones, will and probably do go on social media, especially the likes of TikTok a social media app, where they can create, share and watch short videos, the likes of comedy, dance and education, the temptation will always be there.
So mobile phones can be used for learning with and for entertainment.
SO WHAT ABOUT PHONES AND KIDS?
Younger children who see this, for example, younger brothers and sisters, from as young as 1 year old onwards, will feel left out, and would want to get their hands on this squarish thing that everyone is engrossed in!
HIDE YOUR MOBILE PONE!
Whether they want to play about with pushing buttons, curious how it works, and then once they discover they can watch their favourite movie, or programs without a doubt, you have to watch out, as your phone may go missing!
BUT…..CHECK THIS OUT!!!
HERE’S A SAFER ALTERNATIVE!
Fear not, your kids, even the youngest can have access to a very simple, but well-made smartphone, that is just right for those little hands, pressing very basic buttons, and hearing sounds, that make their phone feel like the real thing!
Hey there, when you click on links in this post and you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission that l can use towards resources (other than throw-outs) for project making within my website😀
CHECK THIS OUT!
Kidly, offer this super wooden toy phone, and it comes with sounds!
Check it out!
Sometimes, your little ones, can’t help keeping their hands off your mobile phone, so the answer is to GET THEM ONE LIKE YOURS!
JANOD has done it again with this excellent Wooden Sound Telephone that has, the right-sized buttons for their little hands and once they press those colourful buttons all these quirky sounds erupt keeping them interested!
HOW DOES THIS WORK!
A simple constructed wooden sound telephone, that will keep your kids interested for hours, playing make-belief and having lots of fun!
A TOY TO LEARN WITH!
Cute isn’t it? This is a super first time phone, for your little ones that will keep them engrossed, and it will address, their fine motor skills, curiousity, and open up an opportunity to have freedom of speech, too!
This Wooden Telephone is also surrounded with a silicone sleeve that protects it and allows for an easy grip!
PARENTS HAVE FUN TOO!
Imagine what fun parents can have making that important telephone call and having an improvised chat about almost anything with your child!
CHAT WITH YOUR KIDS!
This is a great opportunity to ask open ended questions*, where your child would reply with more than one answer, and inhand they would be practising their sentence building!
It’s amazing what can be done with technology today. Crafting with a smartphone? Who would of thought? I agree this is a great activity but it is so easy to get addicted to its use similar to video games. Although I have worked in technology for many years, including its evolution in the late 70s and 80s in Silicon Valley, I always advised caution as I do today with AI and all these other advances. Used as a tool to facilitate tasks is great, but it is so easy for it to take over our lives as we become overly dependent on it. Anyway, you have provided excellent information in the article and I appreciate learning about crafting in a high-tech way.
Thanks for your super comment Joseph! I agree kids can get drawn into all this techno stuff, especially video games!
I was working with some children in Early years, around 5 years old, and I was asking the children for some advice on
what tablet, or smartphone games they play, one of them immediately jumped in and advised me!
Wow, I thought so young, but so in-tune! In anycase, it is the sign of our times, and we have to move on with technology,
although I still advise some parent guidance for the very young!
I am glad you enjoyed this activity, it can be a way for kids to at least enjoy another way to use a mobile phone, by crafting it being creative, and role playing different scenes!
Once again, thanks for jumping in and taking a look!
Julia.?
Hey,
We all know that kids are going to be getting smartphones at some stage, so it is probably best to get them used to them early. But, by doing it in a fun way so they’re not getting caught up by all the horrible social media stuff that goes on.
By doing this, you probably are helping kids and I can see them having a lot of fun with this.
I am going to share this with my brother and sister-in-law to see if they want to do this with my niece, I’m sure they will. I will share it with some friends too.
Thank you for sharing and keep up the amazing work.
All the best,
Tom
Hey Tom, I am glad you enjoyed this activity and want to share it with your relatives!
It is the way things are going, and sadly there is a lot of NO, No, areas that kids should not indulge in especially like you say the social media side, that’s why I recommend parent guidance.
But in saying that, I wanted to provide a fun activity for kids to do mimicking features of a smartphone, particularly that of WhatsApp conversation which kids can have fun chatting away!
Also smartphones can be a good thing too, by providing information as well useful educating Apps, like offering an opportunities to learn all sorts of stuff!
I appreciate your comment and thanks for dropping by!
Julia.?