3. NATIVE AMERICAN—DREAM CATCHERS

Many children suffer with sleep problems and bad dreams.  Native Americans had the perfect solution for this problem that plagues children. It is the Dream Catcher, a round wire hanging with cords woven in a spiderlike pattern inside the circle, and leather cords hanging with beads and feathers dangling.  The tale of the dream catcher, depending which tribe wove it (most Indian tribes have a dream catcher) is that the weaving catches the bad dream and prevents it from getting to the child. The other tale is that the dream catcher web throws the bad dream out so the child only has good dreams.

Most children are familiar with dream catchers and love to make them.  Parents also love the dream catchers and always vocalize their pleasure when we make them in class.  Our dream catchers are made from sturdy cardboard. The dream catcher needs more help from the adult then most of my crafts.

1.      Make a circle from sturdy cardboard. Oak craft paper and files used to be good, but now are too thin to use unless you double them. I use either a desert plate or larger paper plate to make my circle.

2.      Cut another circle within the larger circle leaving enough room to punch holes in the remaining circle. You need space to use a paper punch’

3.      Put 14 holes evenly around the circle with a paper punch.



 

4.      Put 4 extra holes on the bottom for the fringe and one extra hole on top to make   the hanger.

5.      Number the holes each number opposite the next—ie-1 on top, 2, at bottom, 3 next to the right of one, 4 to the left of 2

6.      Have the children decorate the cardboard.

 

7.      Give each child enough string or sometimes I use colored knitting yarn, to weave, following the number pattern-ie-first in 1 then to 2 back to 3, etc.

8.      You will have to tie the end for the child. Then tie cords in the holes to hang from the bottom.

9.      Have the children put beads and feathers on the bottom of the hanging
 

10.  Put a loop on top to hang from.

As difficult this is for you to help the kids make, it is well worth the effort as both parents and children get so much pleasure from them. Years later the parents and the kids always remember their dream catcher craft, and many will still have them hanging in their room over their bed.