Inuit Crafts for Children

Having the correct clothing helps the Inuit people survive the snow and ice of the Canadian Arctic and Subarctic regions. The Inuit and Yupik people are also known as Eskimos. Use craft ideas for children to make replicas of the clothing the Inuit people wear to keep warm in the extreme weather they live in. While making these crafts, children will learn the art of dressing for cold weather and icy conditions.

Painted Parkas

Cut a large brown grocery bag to make a parka, slitting down the front for the main opening. Cut a circle in the bottom of the bag for the neck and two holes for arms on each side. To decorate the parka, draw and paint pictures of the animals that live with the Inuit people, such as seals, walruses, whales, caribou, huskies, eagles and salmon. Cut another bag in half and make the bottom into a hood, cutting a semi-circle opening in one side for the child's face. Glue cotton or polyester fiber along the edges for fur.

Making mukluks

The Inuit people make soft boots called mukluks from sealskin or reindeer skins. Fur from rabbits, fox or raccoon adorns the top edge. Have the children make a set of these boots for their feet using two paper lunch bags. Decorate the bags with crayons and markers. Glue pieces of faux fur, fringed felt, velour or cotton along the top edge. Carefully slip the bags over stocking feet and secure with rug yarn or soft rope.

Create Inuit Mittens

The Inuit people wear mittens for warmth. Children can cut two mitten shapes from white paper. Place several marbles into a container of poster paint. Place the mitten shapes into an aluminum pan. With a spoon, drop a few marbles into the pan with the mittens and roll the marbles around the pan making unique designs. After both mittens are painted and dry, staple a long piece of yarn to connect them. Have the children wear the mitten set around their neck.

Unique Snow Goggles

The Inuit people wear goggles carved from wood or whale bone to help dim the sun's reflection off the snow. Make a replica using cardboard by cutting a piece into an hourglass shape to fit across the eyes. Using scissors, cut two narrow slits in the goggles where the eyes will be. Punch a hole on each side of the cardboard and thread a length of narrow elastic through each hole and knot them. Let the children use art materials to decorate the goggles. Slip the goggles over the child's head and adjust them in place over the eyes.