Mum’s city craft workshops to help build a bond with kids

A Liverpool mum is setting up fun workshops to help parents build a bond with kids while getting stuck into an activity and creating something cool.

Faye Barkley is hoping the sessions will enable families to spend quality time together doing something they can both enjoy, while opening up the channels of conversation ‘that are so important’.

Faye, 29, from Liverpool said:

“Too often I feel that lots of activities or events with parents and children are just too noisy to talk or, as in my case, you end up on the sidelines just holding the coats,”

“I couldn’t find anything that gave me the opportunity to chat with my child and have a good time together, so I decided to come up with something myself. 

“I am very creative and crafty, and I’m hoping people can experience the workshops and how good they are, and word can spread.”

The first Craft and Yap Session is being held at Pocket Café in Liverpool next month.

Its aim will be to create a passport cover using 3D arty cream, Decodem, and Faye has got lots more ideas of things to do, from decorating phone cases, creating and customising tote bags, making things with air dry clay and embellishing circular mirrors in a ‘Crumble Cookie’ style.

Faye, a trainee therapist who has a daughter, Skye, 11, and whose partner Mat has a 10-year-old daughter Olivia, explains: “I think it is influenced partly by my interest in therapy and, possibly, the reason I have done it is because it’s something I was constantly looking for.

“It’s something that I could go to with Skye and, obviously now, Mat and Olivia aswell.

“A lot of kids events are chocka and noisy and you can’t hear yourself think or, like I say, you end up on the sidelines.

“I could never find many things where I could bond with Skye and do something nice together, and that created a lot of mum guilt, when you’ve got a constant to-do list in your head.

“I know you can set up crafts at home, but when you’re surrounded by the laundry and mess that needs sorting, you don’t always find the headspace to come up with a meaningful craft and get all the materials together.”

She adds:

“I can’t always settle doing things at home, I can’t be present in the conversation – and I’m sure other mums, and dads, feel the same.

“But I had noticed that at Easter and Christmas, when I invite a group of Skye’s friends around and set up a craft for them, that’s how my daughter likes to relax and celebrate, and the conversations get going.

“The best bonding sessions I’ve had with Skye are when we’ve been doing something meaningful with our hands, and the craft sessions are the chance to offer that experience for us and others, to provide the space away from the home to have time with your child.

“Too often you can spend hours watching TV or on an iPad. We sit and chat at the table when we eat – but not everyone does that.”

Craft and Yap’s first session at Pocket Café will take place on May 30, and Faye plans to set up other pop up sessions before finding somewhere more regular and permanent, as well as offering workshops to children’s charities.

“I want people to get up, leave their chores and spend time building those relationships.

“You might talk about what’s going on at school or what they want for tea, but it’s making those moments to talk and get to know each other better while opening up those channels of conversation that are so important.

“And … it’s fun!”

The first Craft and Yap is being held at Pocket Café on Saturday, May 30 from 3-4.30pm. 

Follow Faye to find out more on TikTok and on her Instagram page @craftandyapp 

Book your tickets here.

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