March is National Craft Month - Share your craft skills with a friend, your neighbor, or a family member.
 
Growing up I learned to crochet, knit and sew from my grandmother and mother.  I carried this tradition on with my family.  I taught my daughter to crochet and my niece is now interested also.  Craft supplies were always available at our house and creativity was encouraged. 
 
Encourage your children by keeping crayons, paints, drawing paper, and other craft supplies available and accessible.  My favorite activity when my children were younger was to line my kitchen wall with newspaper rolls that were available from my mom's work.  My children and their friends would spend a lot of time drawing on those papers.  They couldn't seem to come into the kitchen without picking up a crayon and drawing.  When the paper was full, we would just replace it with new sheets. I think the greatest thing now is the chalkboard paint.  Purchase the craft kits for children such as woodworking, candle making, jewelry/beading, etc.  These encourage them to explore all the different crafts to find what they enjoy. 
 
Not only is crafting a way of relaxing, but also it can be a source of extra income.  Sell your finished products at craft fairs, yard sales, flea markets, or online at websites such as http://www.iwannatrade.com/ who offer free classifieds, free trades, and flat rate auctions.
 
To learn more about National Craft Month, visit your local craft retailer.