No doubt about it. Young children love to play with art supplies, creating wild and wonderful creations to hang on the refrigerator with great pride. From handprint collages to whimsical valentines and fragrant clay masterpieces, little ones dive into art projects with great enthusiasm. But art is more than fun; It’s also great for your preschooler’s fine motor skills, language development, imagination, and inventiveness. Here are some ideas for expanding your little one’s artistic horizons.
art adventures at home
Make your kitchen a small art classroom. Young children don’t have many material demands in the art department, but variety is key to their creative endeavors. Cover the table with a drop cloth and bring out the play dough, paints (washable!), crayons, colored paper and paste and let the good times roll. Collages are always fun, and the materials may already be in your house. Try glitter, macarons, feathers, old cut-up greeting cards, magazines, playing cards (always wondering what to do with those decks with one card missing?), seeds, sequins, or wrapping paper. The list is limited only by your imagination. And keep in mind that it’s the creation process that’s important, not coloring inside the lines. So, be encouraging of your toddler’s art. Let them talk about his masterpiece. It’s a great way to jumpstart the development of language skills, as well as gain some insight into your young child’s thought processes.
Let’s hear it for the library
Local libraries often have a great list of children’s activities, with toddler stories that combine books and an associated craft activity. It’s a great place to let the little ones create some colorful masterpieces while experiencing the joy of books and getting the chance to meet other kids. Story hours at the library are free, fun, and a great way to foster both a love of art and a love of books.
Day Camp Creations
Little ones spending a morning at summer day camp have plenty of opportunities to fly their creative flags in daily craft classes, a part of a fun-filled schedule indoors and outdoors. Your little one will bring home all kinds of projects and decorations, from nature-themed collages to original jewelry, scratch art, and colorful airplanes. Art classes are always a camper favorite as it is so much fun to immerse yourself in paints, clay and crayons surrounded by camp friends and fun loving counselors.
Great classes at the community center
Community centers, YMCAs, and year-round day camps often offer a good selection of art classes for young children. Depending on your child’s age, classes can involve a parent and an adult, giving you and your child the opportunity to spend some time together while meeting new friends and channeling your inner artist in a delightfully messy way to Small children.
Getting down to business in the museum
For a cool mix of art and science, wildlife, or history, check out the schedule for the toddler program at a local zoo or museum. Many of these institutions run youth programs that mix a bit of education along with some artistic endeavours, and of course, some lively socializing. Children’s museums often offer a wonderful variety of programs for children of all ages, incorporating art into everything from music to science to literature. Art museums often run family programs that use drawings, picture books, and music to help bring works of art to life. For a truly wild hour, try toddler time at the local petting zoo, which is always a big hit when it combines a story, art activity, and real “wild life” encounter with larger creatures.