Parent Tip: Art Starts Early and Lasts a Lifetime

from Sesame Street: Art Starts Early and Lasts a Lifetime
(I found this on a piece of paper on the family room floor when I was coloring with my granddaughter. )

Your child is an artist! From a very young age, children are naturally creative in their own unique ways. Here are a few tips for how you can be creative too as you help your children develop the skills and confidence to express themselves through art.

1. Create space for art: designate a spot in your home as your child's "Art Studio" and provide basic materials like paper, crayons, paints, glue, safety scissors, etc. By setting up a space where your child can always go to draw or paint, you are showing that art is important and yu are empowering your child to create independently. (or with you) You are also giving him or her the freedom to use his or her imagination and express him/herself creatively and emotionally.
2. Talk about Art: before displaying your child's art in your home, take a moment to really look at it with him or her and ask questions:"Tell me about your picture," "What's happening in this picture?" "Why did you use the color red here?" When you talk to your child about his or her art, you can help him or her feel confident in his or her abilities by reinforcing that what he or she is doing is truly artistic and important to you. Talking to your child about his or her art can also stimulate further creative thinking, encourage language skills and lay the groundwork for future learning.
3. Find New Art Materials: your home is full of materials you can collect with your child to paint, color, cut and glue together. With a little imagination, milk cartons and cereal boxes become buildings of a tiny town, egg cartons, paper tubes and plates become funny animals, and magazine and newspaper images become colorful collages. Using these everyday materials can foster creativity and resourcefulness in your child.

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