-Provide the materials, but don't create an image in your mind about your child's finished product. Allow your child to come up with his own masterpiece. Craft kits are can be great fun for kids, but art as unstructured play is not crafting with an expected outcome.
-Work side by side with your child creating your own art, but don't expect your child's work to look anything like your piece.
-If your child becomes frustrated with the process, dialogue with them about how to work out a solution or adjust a technique.
-Display your child's artwork to show you appreciate her creativity.
-If your child is not interested in participating in the art activity, don't force it. Try a new art technique or art materials with the next project.
-Expect it to be messy, and dress your child appropriately. Work in an area of the home, where it easy to clean up.
-For babies and toddlers, think big. When my daughter was younger, I would tape a large sheet of butcher paper to the floor, and she scribbled all over the paper whenever she felt like. We created with chalk on the driveway. We made marks with sticks in the sand and dirt. We painted the tub with washable, soap paint. Sometimes, she only played art for a a few minutes, but that is okay because babies and toddlers have short attention spans.
-The most important strategy for encouraging art as play is to keep art materials accessible to the child. This is important because unstructured play is child directed, and access to art materials allows a child to create whenever she desires. For my daughter's 4th birthday, we assembled an art corner for her, so it would be easier for to create on her own terms.
- Keep it fun and playful.
How do you encourage art as play in your home?
I couldn't end this post without mentioning the artful bloggers who have inspired me and continue to inspire me on my creative journey with Miss E. These are truly creative individuals who understand the process of art with children.
Inspiring Children's Art Bloggers
22 comments:
Hi Rebekah, it is Crystal from Growing A Jeweled Rose. I just love your art corner! I am alreay seeing so many ideas here that I love! I am now following along, and can't wait to see all that you have to share :))))
I like the advice to "think big" for babies and toddlers. That resounds with my experience, but I had never noticed it explicitly.
This was great! So many times I think I encourage her too much to make a specific thing instead of letting her create her own. This is great to read and remember. Love your art corner!
I love this post. We try to do a mixture of both kinds of projects. We do some art projects with an end in mind, but I make sure there are lots of opportunities for him to just make art however he wants. He has an easel in his playroom that sees a LOT of play. I love your art corner! I'm trying to organize R's art space as well. I was trying to get it into just one corner because his playroom is tiny.. but I fear it will take up a good half of the room. Haha. Still trying to work something out! I'm going to pin and share this post. Thanks for sharing!
Fabulous post in the series - we've been doing much more of process art than creating stuff and I think it's really helped J with his play more as well. I've just pinned your art corner I love it - when mine are older and we have more room that is the sort of thing that I want for all of us.
We really have the best time when I don't force what I think the end product should look like. I love your craft area!
My first time here!!!! Thanks so much for sharing your link over at PreK + K Sharing. Great minds think alike!!! I LUV seeing your art corner. Three cheers for all of your insight!!!!
Debbie Clement
PreK+K Sharing
RainbowsWithinReach
Rebekah - some very thoughtful, practical as well as holistic ideas you have shared about art as unstructured play. I totally resonated with each and every point...
And hey - the art corner looks so inviting. It's been a few days that I de-cluttered our art space. Gottu do it soon so that things are more accessible. The collage is such a wonderful way to display kid art...
Last but not least - thank you so very much to mention Mommy Labs in the same breath as the stalwarts. Gosh, I'm truly honoured. Thank you once again :)
Much love and hugs... :)
Perfectly explained and persuaded! A great post about process art, thank you. Pinned!
It's great to see you here, Crystal, and thank you for following along.
I'm glad that piece of advice resonated with you. =)
I think it's okay to encourage creating something specific as long as a child has plenty of time to create whatever they want too.
Thank you for pinning and sharing, Joyce! An easel is a great space for playful art. You don't need a ton of materials out to encourage playful art time.
The great part of having the art supplies on the wall is that it doesn't eat up valuable floor space, so it should work in a small space too. Yes, unstructured art has helped my daughter in her play. She has just started making her own toys to go with her play. We have done that together before, but she now is doing it on her own without any suggestions from me. It's so awesome to see her get so creative like that.
Thank you! Yes, I agree. I find it more fun for both my daughter and me when I am open to how she creates.
I'm glad you came by to visit, Debbie. Thank you for your compliments!
Thank you so much for your sweet words. It was my pleasure to include your blog with the "BIG" ones. You have such an eloquent way of expressing your thoughts on art and children that I wanted to share it with my readers.
I am constantly decluttering, cleaning up art supplies. It's a never ending chore, but worth it.
Thank you, Anna! Thank you for pinning it too!
Ah Rebekah! How am I just seeing this post! Thank you so much for sharing Dilly-Dali Art. Wonderful tips
I especially like working side by side with your child. I know my girls love it when I sit down with them to create :)
Great post :)
And I love Miss E's art corner!
Found your blog via a Pin of your create art corner. Great job! One question: While I completely have a blast indulging both of our creative sides), when did you knew your little one wouldn't be "creative" with everything in the house? Right now, art supplies are carefully stored and brought out only for supervised art time. She comes by it honestly -- I vividly remember drawing murals on the walls of my closet when I was a child.
@Viv That's a good question, Viv. I think it depends on the child. My daughter hasn't shown interest in drawing on walls, so we had crayons, markers, and paper out since she was a toddler. We arranged this art corner for her 4th birthday. I know some kids are more interested in drawing on walls/furniture, so an art bucket might work better for your family. Here is a link to a blog that shares their art caddy which you could put out of reach http://creativewithkids.com/make-creating-with-kids-easy-by-gathering-this-basic-kit/
Thank you, Rebekah. We use a similar "caddy" system, though it IS missing googly eyes. And yes, one morning I was awakened with "Momma, momma, momma! Look what I drew on the wall for you!" thanks to a stray crayon that didn't make it back in. While I do look forward to the day when I can have a nifty art corner -- even one for me -- in the meantime, we'll take it as it comes. Thanks for the reply!
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