The Artful Parent

How to Encourage Drawing Skills, Confidence, & Creativity in Young Children

Dena asked this question on my blog the other day:

I can't draw very well, and really don't want [my daughter] to take after me, would you suggest an art class as a good idea for a 3 year old? There are a few in my area that look fun.

My short answer?

Creativity is...

Kids' Art Activities :: 11 Parenting Bloggers Share Their Favorites

Every family has their favorites when it comes to kids' art activities, but most of us (surely I'm not the only one?) are always on the look out for new fun art activities.

With that in mind, I asked 11 great parenting bloggers to share their favorite art activities with us. Their answers ranged from milk paint and suminagashi to a rainy day doodle game and duct tape flowers. Note: Make sure to click through on the links below for their blog posts on the art activities mentioned and any further description or tutorial.

Finger Painting Fun with Sensory Sand Finger Paint (+ a Giveaway!)

Finger painting is always fun!* Kids have permission to cover their hands with paint and slip, slide their fingers through gooey color. Finger paint is the epitome of sensory art and, for young children especially, sensory art is important for development and even helps them learn.

We recently tried a newly-developed kind of finger paint from Discount School Supply called Sensory Sand Finger Paint. It added a whole new layer of sensory fun to the activity!

***Note: Readers will have a chance to win a set of six Sensory Sand Finger Paints at the end of this post.***

Melting Ice Science Experiment with Salt & Liquid Watercolors

Melting ice with salt and then adding liquid watercolors is a simple kids' science experiment that we've done before. But sometimes you have to try something more than once to really get it right. Last time our melting ice science experiment was so much of a salt and watercolor free-for-all that we couldn't see what was happening to the ice under all the salt.

This time we got it right. And it truly is a beautiful and fun learning experience.

What Would You Like?

What would you like to see here on The Artful Parent?

I'm in a brainstorming mood and am setting up a planning and inspiration wall in the office. I want to be just a bit more intentional about my blog and not fly by the seat of my pants quite so much.

Perhaps one of these days I'll even do a proper survey, but for now, would you please share what you like and what you don't like about The Artful Parent?

Barefoot Books Giveaway :: Day 7

Would you like to win some Barefoot Books?

We are on the last day of seven days of Barefoot Books giveaways. Today I am giving away the following three books:

• Port Side Pirates (watch and sing along CD) by Oscar Seaworthy and Debbie Harter (Paperback)
• Pirates Fun Activities (activity book) by Debbie Harter (Paperback)
• The Prince's Bedtime (with storytime CD) by Joanne Oppenheim and Miriam Latimer (Paperback)

Barefoot Books Giveaway :: Day 6

Would you like to win some Barefoot Books?

We are on day six of seven days of Barefoot Books giveaways. Today I am giving away the following three books:

• Secret Seahorse (a hide-and-seek book) by Stella Blackstone and Clare Beaton (Paperback)
• The Prince's Bedtime by Joanne Oppenheim and Miriam Latimer (Hardcover)
• Who's in the Garden? (a peek-a-boo book) by Phillis Gershator and Jill McDonald (Large format board book)

Barefoot Books Giveaway :: Day 5

Would you like to win some Barefoot Books?

We are on day five of seven days of Barefoot Books giveaways. Today I am giving away the following two books:

• The Gift by Carol Ann Duffy and Rob Ryan (Hardcover)
• Herb, The Vegetarian Dragon by Jules Bass and Debbie Harter (Hardcover)

Creative Drawing Ideas & Prompts for Kids

As one way to encourage creative drawing and the continued use of our chalkboard, I occasionaly add a drawing prompt and wait for the kids to find it. (And by kids, I mean Maia and possibly any friend she has over. Daphne is yet oblivious to such suggestion.)

It almost always results in a thoughtful and unique drawing that veers from the usual drawings that I see them make.