Thursday, 12 September 2013

Get Your Kids Excited About Art

By Kate Halfey


Pablo Picasso once said that every child was an artist; however, you might feel that your children are reluctant artists and need some encouragement. Perhaps your children love art, but you are unsure how to provide them with opportunities to experience art and to enjoy new types of projects. Whether you fall into either category, the following artsy ideas might prove helpful.

There are many fun and inexpensive ways to provide examples of famous works of art to your children. Most cities offer an abundance of different types of art museums, and while you might think that children will not enjoy these museums, many offer special events for children. Go online and check out the museum offerings in your local area and see if there are special kid-friendly activities that fit into your schedule.

While a museum might not be close enough for a visit, consider taking a trip to some local galleries or look at the event calendars for your community and find out when there will be an art show. Often these shows are held in parks or outdoor areas, so combine it with a picnic and some fun outdoor time to entice the kids. Local galleries also are a great idea and they offer an abundance of interesting artwork to look at in many different styles. Even the public library is a good source of inspiration. Both the children's section and the adult section will have an assortment of art books, documenting many different styles.

Art classes can be a fun way for children to enjoy art and to learn advanced techniques. While private lessons can be pricey, many community centers offer low-cost art classes for children of many ages. Sometimes even public schools have an after-school art class that teaches a specific technique. This is certainly a fun option if it's affordable and available in your area.

When children have easy access to art supplies, they are more inclined to be creative. So consider setting up an area where crayons, scissors, glue, paper and other supplies are stored and easy to find. If you are low on storage space, an inexpensive plastic cart with drawers or bins can be filled with supplies and stored in the corner of the laundry room, garage or playroom. After a work of art has been completed, snap a picture of it. This way you can make an art scrapbook for your child, rather than trying to store every art project your kids make.

When you need inspiration for a planned project, the internet is a fantastic source of fun, easy art projects for kids. There are tons of websites to consider from just doing a general search or heading to site such as ArtProjectsForKids.org or perhaps Pinterest. Many other parent-friendly websites contain many excellent ideas, as well. Sign up for email lists from online and regular craft stores so that you can be aware of special deals that can help you save on craft supplies.




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