I wonder if the billions of parents who make and raise little humans pause to think of the billions of minds they are shaping? Parents are shaping the minds that will progress our civilization into the future. It is an incredible thing.
Raising a child requires a well-rounded experience for the child. An experience that exposes the child to develop their creativity, critical thinking, imagination, and skill set as a well-rounded human.
When introducing children to arts, you want to make sure the experience is aiding the development of the brain while also being fun and enriching for the child.
So, in your quest to help develop your child’s creativity, you may have to organize art projects. These are some tips on what you need to know about children’s art projects.
Tip #1: You don’t have to be an Artist to Set up Art Shop for your Kids
It may feel a little intimidating to set up your kid’s art project to get them started on their creative journey. You may feel self-doubt and wonder how you could set up anything arts-related when you are not an artist.
The good news is that you don’t need to be an artist to set up an art project for your children. You should read up on what helps develop a child’s mind through art and use it to set up your child’s own ‘art shop’ - a space to let the creativity flow.
Tip #2: Focus on Process, not Product
Art is about the process of learning and developing your child’s creativity. The result is immaterial here. The focus should be on the process of how your child created the art he did. Focus on the “HOW” they create and not the “WHAT” they create.
Resist the urge to ask what they are creating as they embark on the art project. When your child learns to love the process, they will have a lifelong connection to creativity that will be invaluable - even if they don’t end up in a creative field later.
The same goes for the time spent. Art projects don’t have to be an hour-long process. It could take 5 minutes, 15 minutes, or even an hour.
Tip #3: Pick Child-friendly Quality Art Supplies
When trying to help your child’s creative side, it is vital to have the right tools and supplies. Look for quality child-friendly supplies such as crayons, paint, paper, playdough, easels, etc.
You may think your child could do with the cheaper, more inferior art supplies as they are just learning the art. However, cheap crayons or paint don’t develop the color to spark your child’s imagination. A low-quality paper may not hold the rough-and-tumble nature of your child’s art process.
Be picky when choosing art supplies. For example, you can pick a more custom kit like custom paintings to paint yourself for your child’s art project.
Keep their health and safety in mind as well. Kids will put stuff in their mouths and will try to taste the crayon. Of course, you should stop them from eating their crayons, ensuring you have good quality child-friendly art supplies takes out the added stress of safety for you.
Tip #4: Guide them with Inquisition not Expectations
One of the best gifts you could give your child’s creative process is to be their first enthusiastic follower. Silently observing and being present while your child experiences art is a significant part of the child’s development.
Be inquisitive. Ask questions like “how does it feel to use the paint?” or comment on what you observed, “I notice that you drew something round and round with purple.”
Offer them the supplies and tools and let them choose. Don’t make that choice for them. Indeed, don’t set any expectations about what they will make at the end of the process.
Be a curious guide and supporter, without any expectations of the ‘what’ they create.
Tip #5: Create and Organize Access to Art
It is essential to offer your children constant access to art. Create an art space for them. Organize the art supplies with labels and make them all reachable. You want your kids to naturally enter their art space and start working on their creative process without asking for help or setting up their art space.
You can undoubtedly organize occasions for art, but the space and supplies should be plentiful and accessible.
Tip #6: Embrace The Mess
No matter their process and the result, one thing is for sure, kids WILL create a ‘mess’ when they get creative with arts. That is part of the learning process. So much about art for children is sensory play. This is how their brains develop, and their minds grow.
Therefore, you need to learn to embrace the mess. Ensure the chaos is happening in a place where it won’t make permanent damage or markings to your home. Put a plastic table cloth on the kitchen floor or set up your little ones to play with paint in the bathtub.
They will get messy and will get paint all over them, but that is okay. The plastic table cloth can be put away. As for the kids with paint all over them, well, they are in the tub for a bath time!
Introducing your child to art will jumpstart a lifelong process of creativity and individuality that will shape them for the rest of their life. You don’t have to be an expert at art to start their creative process.
If you get them good quality safe supplies and create a safe space for art, you will have given them the tools they need to let their creativity flourish.
When you focus on the process and not the product and be their inquisitive observer, you will have supported their development and provided the encouragement they need.
When you embrace the mess they create as they explore their sensory play, you will have given them the freedom they need to develop and grow.
Art is a beautiful thing; let your child interact with it early and often. This will be one of the best things you do for them. Happy parenting!
