Who knew that little coloured elastic bands could be so calming and rewarding…… Until recently I never knew the joy of making a loom band bracelet. I love crafts and being creative. And as I’ve previously stated my enthusiasm tends to greatly outweigh my skill but I find making things so good for my wellbeing. In the weekly Girls Group sessions I run loom bands were mentioned and my friend reassured me that the students would know how to ‘loom-band’. So I trotted off to the session with this plastic tub of small coloured bands (without a clue how to use them myself) and wow……….the students were amazing. They sat around on the floor helping and teaching each other how to join the bands so that a bracelet could be made. They taught me and some of my colleagues and before long a calmness took over and we sat together, chatting, making jewellery out of these bands. Whenever I bring in the loom bands the students are always really happy and love them……they make a bracelet quickly so it’s a quick win. Almost instant results. They make them for each other too and their family. And the staff supporting the session, often being taught by a student, comment how calming it is.

So the message from me today is: always have a tub of loom bands available. You never know when you’ll need them and you’ll be amazed as the students pick up the skills and support each other.

Happy loom-banding!