Now that school is out for the summer, many parents have a great deal of time to spend with their kids. What better way to spend that time than to hang out with them and make some art? From my experience, kids have short attention spans. They need to be entertained constantly and get bored very quickly. This is not a bad thing; it’s just their nature. I had a parent once tell me that kids are really not that different from adults; they just haven’t had as much time to experience the world as the rest of us. Kids want to know about everything and anything. They want you to challenge them; to treat them as equals. Making art and having quality creative time with your kids is a great way to keep them entertained while having a bonding experience with them. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when making art with kids.
Completed art project rendered with ink lines and colored pencils. Courtesy Exploring Art Media by Barbara H. Shannon
- Don’t be afraid to challenge them. The way I learned to paint was by reproducing other people’s paintings. Pull out some Monet or Van Gogh books and let your kids pick what they want to paint or draw. If there is something specific that they want to paint, like a horse or a dog, browse the internet with them.
- Keep it fun. If its not fun, it looses its appeal. Sometimes, the best way to make painting fun is give a kid a really big canvas and a lot of tempura or acrylic paint and let him or her go wild. It’s messy, but it’s guaranteed to be a good time.
- Try different mediums. Let them figure out which ones they like best. Each medium presents a different challenge, and working through how each one works can be a fun challenge.
- Making art with kids is one of the best ways to teach them the value of patience. Don’t let them bully you with the “when will I be done?” Making art takes time and patience. Let them know that they can stop and move on or come back to it whenever they want, but if they can be patient with themselves their work will be that much more beautiful.
- It is important to work with your kids as often as you can. This is especially true when teaching kids to draw what is in front of them. Set up a still life with your kids, and draw it with them. When they see how you work on the same image, it will inspire them to step up their game. Remember, kids are aspiring adults. The want to be as awesome as you when they grow up.
- Positive reinforcement is key. That doesn’t mean give them money and toys every time they finish an art project; just make sure to let them know just how beautiful and special their work is, and how proud you are of them.