Uthak-athik Craft is a programme with the aim of inciting creativity in children by inviting them to make their own toys, just as children of the past did. One of the most important aspects in this programme is making use of used and scrap materials around them. By doing so, children are taught to be creative and ingenious in making use of simple materials. Moreover, they are also given the opportunity to hone in practical skills involved in toymaking. The primary goal of Uthak-athik Kreatif is to provide a space for children to develop craftsmanship and creativity while preserving cultural values embedded in traditional toymaking and instilling moral values. By learning to upcycle, children are taught the importance of being eco-friendly. Toys made in this programme are usually based on museum collection, especially objects related to traditional culture. Some of these toys are paper masks and hats, lanterns, and even traditional toys such as othok-othok (traditional rattle-drums). This programme allows children to get to know simple toys along with fine-tuning dexterity by making objects on their own. In addition to handicrafts, Uthak-athik Kreatif also incorporates such other activities as storytelling and writing. This integrated activity aims to stimulate imagination and improve children’s communication and writing skills. Storytelling also allows children to listen and read up on traditional stories, or make their own.
UTHAK ATHIK CRAFTS
An activity to stimulate creativity in children by inviting them to make their own toys, just as children of the past did.
