To answer your question properly, let's first look at the differences between art and craft activities for children.
Art activities happen when art materials are made available and the children decide how to use them. Children's art often results in something creative, not a perfect finished product that can be recognized as a tree, snowman, or something else they see. Children's artwork is usually unique. No two art projects will look alike.
Crafts are activities where the children are told how to use the materials to make something specific. Craft projects tend to all look alike because children are told to follow specific directions or patterns.
For young children, art activities are the best! Art activities allow children to be creative and explore the materials. Children will learn more from art than from trying to do what everyone else does. Art activities are less work for you. You can set out the materials and let the children's imaginations take over. Craft projects require you do to a lot of extra work to make sure everyone has the same pieces to put together to make the same things.
Older school-age children will enjoy a combination of both art and craft projects. Art projects will give them the freedom of using their creativity, while craft projects (such as macrame, sewing projects, latch hook, woodworking, etc.) will challenge them to use new skills and follow directions.
For more examples on how to incorporate arts and crafts, check out this Better Kid Care America article on making creative art available to all children.
