Are you a mama who doesn't know where to start with encouraging your child in art at home? As a mom to 2 and an art teacher, let me help you out!
Supplies:
If it works for your family and your space, have the following supplies out all the time, for whenever the creative mood strikes. If that doesn’t work then try to have a specific area in your home for storing them in clear, labeled bins for easy access. And just a note, there are a lot of very fun supplies out there, but they don't have to be fancy to get a lot of good use out of them. If your child is hesitant about creating, sit down and do a random doodle or art project without saying anything and there is a good chance your kid will join you!
In a multi-sectioned caddy- Markers, crayons, and/or colored pencils. Better yet, switch them out with a different coloring supply every month to keep it fresh.
Paper- White printer paper, watercolor paper, colored construction paper. Again, you could have all of them out or switch them up every once in a while.
My family loves to always have painter's tape on hand. From using it for various activities to tape resist art making or connecting recycled objects together to make sculptures, the possibilities are endless!
Scissors and glue. Depending on your kids’ age, you may want to keep these out of reach until they ask for them. I've had my kids cut their shorts and their brother's hair before and huge puddles of glue, yikes! Another note about scissors- in the past my kids have enjoyed having a box that I would bring out containing all different thicknesses of paper for my kids to randomly cut away at in the confines of the box. Envelopes, junk mail, scraps of paper, magazines all work!
Pencil and eraser. Again, depending on age. For younger kids I like to have them draw straight with a marker and just turn any “mistakes” into something beautiful.
Paint. I recommend having this put away until your kids ask for it unless they are very responsible. A watercolor paint tray to go with your watercolor paper and easily washable tempera paint is what I suggest.
For extra fun try Model Magic air dry clay. It is soft in little one's hands and dries hard in a day or two. It comes in fun colors too and is easily purchase from any art store.
Study your child and see if they like 2D or 3D art more. If they like 3D like my kids do, keep a box in the garage of recycled material just for them to create with- cereal boxes to draw on, water bottles to make jet packs, paper towel tubes to make light sabers, etc. Have tape on hand so they can make things themselves.
Encourage your child to clean up when they’re done so the art supplies are ready to use next time. If there are issues with cleaning up you could have them decorate the space their own way so they feel ownership over it or take away supplies if they don’t take care of them.
Showcasing
If it works for your family and space, consider showcasing your child's art in your home. It's a great way to show that you are proud of what your child has created and a conversation starter for visitors! Do whatever works for you and your family. Here are some ideas.
String or clip them on the wall. I personally use the space on my staircase and switch the artworks periodically (Except the scarecrow that my oldest son's preschool made with his face on it seems to have a permanent residence on that wall!).
Create a book of the artworks- either a photo book or a scrapbook type thing. There are even services out there that will make the book for you! Or create a photo album on your phone of just child artwork.
Keep some, use some, toss some. Using these simple 3 rules might make your home a little less cluttered. Keep a few of your favorites or your child's favorites for display or in a memory box. Use some as wrapping paper or turn them into gift tags or greeting cards. Laminate them and turn them into placemats. Give them as gifts. Toss the rest. If you have a hard time throwing away your child's artwork (or your child has a hard time tossing their creations), try involving them in the process of selection. Or keep a box of the artwork for a month and if they don't ask about it, quietly toss it. Maybe take a picture of it first.
Have a museum day to honor the maker and acknowledge all the effort put into the art making. Pull out the artwork and display it and enjoy it as a family, then take pictures and toss.
Resources
Sometimes it’s hard to know where to get started.
If you’re looking for videos on how to draw, check out https://artforkidshub.com/how-to-draw/
Artfulparent.com has creative ideas for all ages, along with a more detailed supplies list.
Check out some vIrtual art museums from your couch together!
If you have Amazon Prime try watching a show called Creative Galaxy with young kids.
Art and creating can be fun and memorable. You don’t need to make it into something stressful or anxiety inducing for you or your child. Do what you can do and leave the rest. If mess irritates you, just have paper and colored pencils. You might be surprised with how creative your child can get with the simplest of supplies. If your child gets anxious about not knowing what to create or about their artwork being perfect, try process art, which emphasizes the making of art over the final product. You could try just making lines and shapes in a fun way. And finally, create with your child without saying anything about the quality of it or your own abilities. The child will pick up on that and start to think that they may not be good at art. Art doesn’t have to be “good” to be enjoyable.
God,
Thank you for giving us beauty and giving us the ability to reflect You by creating.
Help these mamas and kids have fun creating. May it bring them joy and contentment.
Amen.