· Children don’t just paint. They create in their mind and express it on paper.
· They paint to experiment with color and represent what is around them.
· Use large paper for children.
· With young children only have 2 colors of paint out. As they get older (4-5 years) add a few more
· Use same materials often, they will master the techniques
Developmental Stages of Art
1. Scribbling
o 1-2 ½ years old
o Use their whole arm
o They like to scribble. It’s fun. Even if they are older, this is ok
o Developing motor skills
o Use large tools (they need to be able to grasp it)
2. Preschematic
o 3 ½ -4 years old
o Moves elbow and down
o Represent reality, for only that day. Have them explain what it is and write it down on the back. They won’t be able to explain it the next day.
o Children will explain the painting. ASK them!
o They draw feelings
o Use symbols (ex: circles for faces)
3. Schematic
o 5-6 years old
o Draws man and the environment
o More aware of lines, color, and space and use to depict objects
o Have a baseline (ground or sky)
o Picture has direction (top, bottom)
o Everything is experienced based
o Children have a preferred art medium (what to use)
*These ages aren’t set in stone. If your three year old is scribbling, don’t worry. Now if your 5 year old is scribbling, you should be worried if that’s the only drawing he/she does.
· Things to paint with:
o Markers
o Pencils
o Colored pencils
o Clicky pens
o Chalk
o Wet chalk
o Water color crayons and pencils
o Crayons
o Toothbrush
o Rollers
o Paint brushes
§ Fan brushes
§ Stencil brushes
§ Professional brushes
· Fun art things to try
o Markers on bubble wrap
o Wet paper (it’s ok that it rips)
o Create different easels (some that turn, plexi glass, etc)
o Spin art- get a record player, pour paint on while it spins (Karo syrup/glue + food coloring)
o Colored paper
o Puffy paint (make your own- a bottle of shaving cream + half a bottle of glue)
o Salt flour paint= equal parts salt, flour, and water. Mix well, dye colors
o Scent your paint Ex: cinnamon or peppermint extract
o Fizzy paint: mix baking soda with colored Kool-Aid and then fill a spray bottle with vinegar and have them spray it.
o Colored tissue paper and liquid starch (the starch makes the color bleed. It dries translucent and crystallized)
o Soap paint- grate Ivory soap (Ivory is the only one that works according to my teacher) and mix with water with an electric mixer until good consistency
· Printing
o Sponges
o Fruits and veggies
o Boxes wrapped with string
o Pinecones
o Silly putty
· Scissors
o Be safe
o Always watch them
o Don’t have sharp ends
o Make sure they cut!
o Scrapbooking scissors (crazy scissors) are so fun!
Remember, when working with children it’s all about exploration and play. They will learn best by doing and figuring things out on their own. Especially with art, let them do what they want. They see things differently than we do. For them, art is a PROCESS. Don’t expect a final project from them.
For example: A little girl colored beautiful flowers on her paper. Then she took a blue marker and scribbled on it. Later, when her mom asked her, she girl told her it was rain.
She wasn’t ruining her picture, she was telling a story.
Another example: A child was painting at the easel and used beautiful vibrant colors. When my professor came around again, the child had painted over it with black. When asked, the child explained that it was night time now.
Encourage creativity. Don’t expect a final project. Let your child explore and play. Be realistic about their abilities. Don’t get mad that they don’t stay on the paper, just cover your table.
Enjoy and HAVE FUN!!!
