Plastic Bag Monoprints
Step 1: Create a painting on a plastic sandwich bag.
Positive Ways to Respond to Children's Art
Check out this article 'Preschoolers and Praise, What Kinds of Messages Help Kids Grow' for more info on how to create a growth mind-set by choosing process praise instead of generic praise.
To support the creative process we try to make comments that are provocations to open the door for more conversation:
"Tell me about what you've done."
"What are you thinking?"
"I notice that you have used a lot of red and yellow."
"In this part of the picture your lines go round and round and round."
One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is to take the time to reflect, notice, and share a thoughtful response with our full attention.
(Betsy McKenna M.Ed.)
Crayon Resist Watercolors
Step 1: Draw a picture with waxy crayons.
PABLO PICASSO
Circle Designs
"I'm going to make my circles dance too!"
Cotton Swab Mini Watercolors
HELEN KELLER
7 Tips for Raising Creative Thinkers
Trust that children are capable and can create their own path.
Nurturing creativity can get messy sometimes :)
2. Let them play.
Unstructured play supports a lifelong love of learning.
3. Create a maker space.
Carve out a place in your home where kids are free to create and explore on their own terms.
4. Ask questions.
When we ask open-ended questions we are helping our child use language to elaborate an idea, and we are showing interest in their play and work.
5. Visit Museums.
Museums expose children to unknown worlds, can provoke imagination, and are a place where art appreciation begins. A great trick to make them fun is to start at the Gift Shop, have the child pick some postcards they are excited about, and then go on a search to find the real art that matches the postcard!
6. Let them decorate their rooms.
When children are in charge of their own space it gives them a sense of autonomy, motivates them to keep things tidy, teaches them to respect other people's spaces, and helps them develop a sense of style.
7. Model Imperfection.
When we make mistakes (as we all do!) if we apologize, clean up, laugh at our mishaps and find creative solutions we are modeling for our children how to fix and learn from mistakes.
Landscape Painting
HENRI MATISSE
I see that you...
"I see that you used red swirly lines."
Remind me how you...
"Remind me how you made the paper stand straight up this way."
I know you can...
"I know you can figure this out. You have done it before."
Try it!
"Try it - you never know what might happen."
Take a chance...
"Take a chance see what happens."
What do you think?
What do you think about how to make your sculpture bigger?"
Give it a go.
"Give it a go. That's the only way forward."
Tell me how...
"Tell me how you built such a tall sturdy structure."
You remembered how...
"You remembered how to close the glue jar so it won't dry up."
I noticed that...
"I notices that you started folding the paper but then changed your mind and began to cut the paper instead."
Just try it and see how your child responds!
(Betsy McKenna)
Art City
Wonderful things can happen when children work together: greater energy, words of encouragement, consideration of equality, thinking out loud, taking leadership roles, listening to other opinions, and generating new ideas.
LEV VYGOTSKY
We got up to a lot of activities besides just process art this month. Check out our cool bridge we made!
KENNETH GRAHAME, THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS