Art shouldn’t be intimidating. It’s a form of self-expression and anyone can do it. It is an outlet for the imagination, which is why it is important that we teach it to children. However, structured lessons are not always the way to go. If you really want their creativity to bloom, here are some things you can do:
Have Materials Ready
One of the first things you should do is get art supplies. Though you can ask parents to provide their kids with art materials, it can lead to disparate resources. It is better to have the class draw on a common source of art supplies. It also allows you to control what medium to work with for the day. For example, if you want to work with blend markers for a particular project, then you can ask the parents to buy these materials from a single supplier.
There is one thing to remember, though. Try to avoid working with erasers. Erasers allow second-guessing. Children might think their work is not good enough and erase it – which is not what arts and crafts are about. Teach children to just go with the flow and not worry at all about the final results.
Be Ready for a Mess
You’re not going to come out of an art lesson without a mess. Though some people think smocks and aprons are necessary, just dump them. Have the kids go in directly and accept that things will be messy. It allows the kids to be free with what they do and not care about leaving a mess. It doesn’t mean you can’t prepare for it, though. Place covering on the furniture and other places you don’t want to get messed up.
Give an Example, But Don’t Stick to It
Children may not know what to do yet but once they have a handle on things, they can get really excited. This is where your example comes in. Just show them what to do, but emphasize that they’re not supposed to copy it. For example, you draw a tree in watercolor as a way to show how it is done. Ask the kids to draw whatever comes to their mind instead of having them copy that tree. This gives them freedom and lets their imagination soar.
Leave Them Alone
Once you’ve shown them what to do, it is time to leave them alone. In the past, art teachers wandered around and gave comments on the children’s work. That’s not the way you want to do things now. You want these kids to spread their wings when it comes to imagination. Just let them do their art for ten minutes and then do a walk around. Only make a comment when the children are noticeably having difficulty on what exactly they want to paint. Other than that, be all praises.
When it comes to making art, there should be no limits. The tips above should help in teaching this simple fact to children. With a little encouragement, your little artists will be making delightful pieces that show off their creativity and precociousness. Be assured that this is a good sign and the smile on their faces should be an additional reward.
