If you are just a few days into summer break and your children are already discussing with you how they are completely bored, it's probably time to spice up your routine a bit. Signing up for some type of summer camp might be too pricey, but you can actually create your own, homemade summer camp filled with tons of great art projects. Here are a few helpful tips.
When it comes to art, children should be exposed to the knowledge that art comes in many forms, from sculpture to painting to collage. With this in mind, give each day a specific theme, and this also will help you with planning. Your first day can be a nature theme. After a good long walk in a local natural area, such as a park, children can bring home all of the cool leaves, flowers, pebbles and other items they collect and create a collage with all of these pieces. For a more advanced project, have them create a nature shadowbox using a shoe box.
Another option that includes a mini field trip is studying the works of a famous artist. Consider going to the library and grabbing some books that feature many different artists who create in many different styles. When the kids find someone they like, go home and create something based upon the style of a famous painter. For example, grab paints and brushes, head outside and splatter some paint on a canvas in the manner of Jackson Pollack. Cut a piece of paper into 12 equal-sized squares and have the children decorate them in the style of Kandinsky's Squares with Concentric Circles.
Sometimes it's hard to mimic the work of your children's favorite painter, so consider purchasing a mural in PDF, downloading it to your computer and printing it out. The PDF will be multiple pages and each one will have a piece of the painting, such as Sunday in the Park by Seurat or perhaps Starry Night by Van Gogh. These cost only about $5 from sites such as ArtProjectsForKids.org, and they look amazing after your children have colored them in and pasted them on a piece of paper. They look similar to original work but with an interesting spin that reflects your children's style.
Don't forget about exploring the world of 3-D art, such as working with modeling clay. Most craft stores sell low-cost clay or Play-dough or you can make your own colorful dough. If you use white or gray clay that can be baked, your children can also paint their sculpture after it has dried and set. You can provide a special theme or just let them create whatever they want.
If you plan ahead, you can save and rinse milk cartons and also save cardboard food containers. Have the kids cover these items with butcher paper or paint over them and create storefronts, skyscrapers, apartments and houses to create a homemade city. You can even paint paper to feature roads and parks and maybe even a river or a pond. This can be played with afterwards for many days and is a great way to use recycled items and create new, fun toys.
When it comes to art, children should be exposed to the knowledge that art comes in many forms, from sculpture to painting to collage. With this in mind, give each day a specific theme, and this also will help you with planning. Your first day can be a nature theme. After a good long walk in a local natural area, such as a park, children can bring home all of the cool leaves, flowers, pebbles and other items they collect and create a collage with all of these pieces. For a more advanced project, have them create a nature shadowbox using a shoe box.
Another option that includes a mini field trip is studying the works of a famous artist. Consider going to the library and grabbing some books that feature many different artists who create in many different styles. When the kids find someone they like, go home and create something based upon the style of a famous painter. For example, grab paints and brushes, head outside and splatter some paint on a canvas in the manner of Jackson Pollack. Cut a piece of paper into 12 equal-sized squares and have the children decorate them in the style of Kandinsky's Squares with Concentric Circles.
Sometimes it's hard to mimic the work of your children's favorite painter, so consider purchasing a mural in PDF, downloading it to your computer and printing it out. The PDF will be multiple pages and each one will have a piece of the painting, such as Sunday in the Park by Seurat or perhaps Starry Night by Van Gogh. These cost only about $5 from sites such as ArtProjectsForKids.org, and they look amazing after your children have colored them in and pasted them on a piece of paper. They look similar to original work but with an interesting spin that reflects your children's style.
Don't forget about exploring the world of 3-D art, such as working with modeling clay. Most craft stores sell low-cost clay or Play-dough or you can make your own colorful dough. If you use white or gray clay that can be baked, your children can also paint their sculpture after it has dried and set. You can provide a special theme or just let them create whatever they want.
If you plan ahead, you can save and rinse milk cartons and also save cardboard food containers. Have the kids cover these items with butcher paper or paint over them and create storefronts, skyscrapers, apartments and houses to create a homemade city. You can even paint paper to feature roads and parks and maybe even a river or a pond. This can be played with afterwards for many days and is a great way to use recycled items and create new, fun toys.
About the Author:
Kate Halfey loves writing about art projects for kids. For further information about art projects such as Kandinsky for kids or to find recyclable art projects for kids, please go to the ArtProjectsForKids.org website today.
0 comments:
Post a Comment