A child will develop holistically only if we give equal weightage to all the areas of development. Art activities are not only a super way to have some fun time with your kids, but they also assist a great deal in a child's brain development. Besides this, learn about everyday activities that can help your child's brain develop.
The Annapolis Christian Academy in Corpus Christi, Texas focuses on every aspect of a child's development. Apart from the pre-school curriculum that encompasses art activities, Corpus Christi private schools have curated a guide so that parents can have some fun time enjoying these activities with their tiny tots. Before we begin, a few principles parents must follow:
We know that parents are hard-pressed for time and, when they see the mess all around, it freaks them out. But let's be honest! Art and mess go hand in hand. Just because art is messy, you can't withhold your child and yourself from having some fun. Mentally prepare yourself for the clean-up. The more you yell and scream, warning your child to avoid staining and spilling, the less are the chances of you both having a good time.
The best solution is to designate an area of the house as an art and craft area. Use a used or inexpensive rug to cover the floor so that you don't have to worry in case of spills. By training your child to help in cleaning the mess, you can double the enjoyment. That way they will learn a new skill. It will also relieve them from the fear that you will get mad at them looking at the mess.
Never overwhelm your child with loads of art supplies. Start with a very limited selection. If you have purchased a new box of crayons, don't give your toddler the whole box in excitement. Offer them only 2 or 3. You can gradually increase the numbers.
There are two plus points in this. Firstly, they will be able to focus better and, cleaning will be much easier. Although it may seem boring for adults, following this rule offers just the precise challenge and stimulation for the toddler who might be coloring for the first time.
Adults are always concerned about the outcome, but kids tend to enjoy the task more than what they achieve at the end. They enjoy gathering their belongings, sitting in their designated corner, playing with colors, expressing themselves, and cleaning up at the end. They don't believe in preserving their artwork; they might spend hours on a drawing and then never turn back and look at it. Remember they are kids. You too enjoy yourself with them!
Let's jump to read about some art activities that you can do with your pre-schooler:
It is one of the easiest and most convenient art activities that even the youngest toddler can participate in. You can buy some inexpensive stickers that are bright and colorful in bulk from Amazon. Let your tiny-winy enjoy making their art project by creating a peel-and-stick collage with these readymade stickers. As one rule that we mentioned above, cut and give only 10 to 15 stickers at one time. Peeling and sticking the stickers is a great way to develop focus and fine motor skills.
With little ones, it is best to plan this activity outdoors to avoid spending time cleaning the mess. Finger painting is super fun for some children, but others may tend to detest it. This art activity offers them a great sensory experience. It is better if done on a bigger sheet of paper as it might get hard to keep the paint on a smaller sheet. At first, simply let them enjoy colors, and then guide them to make goal-oriented images.
Egg-shaped crayons or finger crayons are the perfect for those who have not yet acquired the 3-finger grip used for pencil or crayons. Crayons rocks can be another wonderful option if you want to introduce your child to crayons. But be careful to ensure that your child does not put them in his/her mouth.
If at all you notice that your child is not comfortable holding the crayon (if they are gripping them with their whole hand), leave this idea for now. Move on to some other interesting art material. Once the child gets habituated to grip crayons in this fashion, it will be hard to unlearn this habit later.
Learning this skill is pivotal to prepare your child for more complex project work in the future. They will have ample projects to make and, this skill will come in handy at that time. Like many other activities, this too will hone their focus and fine motor skills.
Corpus Christi private schools have tons of art activities that make use of scissors. Every child is unique and, not all of them can master these skills easily. You can always make these things fun for your child so that they would be keen to learn these skills.
Sit with them and cut strips of paper. Draw lines on these strips and then ask them to cut on the line. You can use colorful sheets of paper and then ask them to glue their little scraps. There are many scissor skills activity books that have pre-designed cutting tasks that are fun for little champs.
Playing with clay can induce a calming effect on children. Pressing the clay dough with their palms and fingers is an excellent way to alleviate aggression, thus having a therapeutic use. It is an ideal exercise to develop the hand muscles.
Buy a clay set that has a few tools that can make clay activities much more fun. Warp the clay in a damp cloth and store it in an airtight container to increase the time it can last.
Using simple everyday objects, this art activity can appeal to those kids who are not very comfortable with finger painting. Use veggies like onions, potatoes, ladyfingers, or capsicum to create your veggie stamps. Household items like a sponge, cork, bottle stoppers can all make some awesome stamping options. Dip these objects in paint or ink pad and, there you go! Stamp! Stamp! Stamp!
Making a collage can be useful and imaginative. Use any kind of paper that is available (Old magazines, crumpled colored paper, pieces from your child's previous artwork). Place a rough mat or cloth below the sheet of paper, give them a glue stick and, you are all set. They can just have some fun!
Drawing with stencils assists children in drawing those shapes that they can't draw freehand; it helps develop control and focus. They can use their toys, household objects or, you can buy stencil shapes that your child adores (fairies, dinosaurs, etc.).
Some children love to spend time outdoors. Pursuing art activities outdoors can open their imagination. They can look around and draw what they see. Don't expect it to be picture perfect! Painting can be the next stage where you can teach them how to use colors, clean, and wipe the brush.
Encourage your child to use natural objects like shells, stones, twigs, flowers, or leaves for their artwork. They can paint on them, use them as stencils or stick them as collage. The texture of these objects is soothing and will assist in sensory development.
As kids grow older, you can take them on an art treasure hunt. Your clues can lead them to their treasure, which they can happily incorporate into their artwork.
Art since ages is considered as an important medium of expression. It boosts creativity and imagination. The Annapolis Christian Academy, a well-known Christian pre-school in Corpus Christi, TX believes in striking the right balance. We ensure that an amalgamation of all the skills will build a bright future for your child. Our teachers don't simply believe in sticking to the grading system; we follow different ways to monitor a child's progress.
Visit the campus of The Annapolis Christian Academy Corpus Christi, Texas to feel the positive vibes!