The Artful Parent

Genesis 1:1 Day 2 Creation
Mama Art

Morning came at 6 a.m. today and I started off in Solomon's Song. After a while I gravitated towards what I hoped I would accomplish today. It rained most of the morning and then again late this afternoon. Creed had a daddy and me day at the classic car show and Lowes.

John 6 1-14
Mama Art

My intention was to plan homeschool for next week and clean the house. Instead I painted some rocks (thanks to my great friend from the blog 2Day I Choose for the inspiration. Want to learn more? Visit: http://2dayichoose.blogspot.com) while the house was quiet while watching "The Time Travelers Wife." I cut out the flash cards from the lamination, which took way longer than I thought it would. And while Creed napped I planned next week's lesson. It takes me two hours every time. I usually go back and forth adding, moving things around and second guessing myself. 

Matthew 6:26
Mama Art

This morning I wanted to try an experiment. The Artful Parent by Jean Van'T Hul, talks about ways to encourage process art, allowing children to explore art materials with open-ended art. To do this the author further explains to provide an art area where children can create freely with materials you keep assessable to them. Stock low shelves with tubs of supplies like crayons, glue, scissors, colored paper, etc., based on the age of your children. I used to keep paint in the cups with a bunch of paint brushes on Creed's easel, plus paper and coloring sheets. He played with it whenever the spirit moved him. I left it out until the paint eventually dried in the cups and cleaned them up but haven't replaced them yet. I remember a surprised friend coming to visit with her children that asked, "They're painting unsupervised?!" Yep. I don't much care about mess or paint on clothing. It can always be cleaned, but I should have forewarned the availability of art supplies. I didn't think to mention it because it's just our lifestyle. The Artful Parent describes this as strewing. To strew simply set out things like library books, art materials, musical instruments or whatever you desire around your house where your children will likely come in contact with them.

The Artful Parent list:

• Lay black poster board on the art table with a white crayon or cup of white paint (white chalk would would too)
• Leave playdough and some kitchen tools on the kitchen table
• Set a challenge drawing paper on the coffee table alongside a cup of markers
• Leave window crayons or window markers in a cup on the windowsill
• Tape a series of 2x2 pieces of watercolor paper to the art table next to some watercolor paint, a brush and some water
• Sort a variety of dried beans, rice and pasta into muffin tin sections, leaving some glue and card stock next to them
• Leave a sketchbook and some colored pencils in a basket on the front porch
• Tape a large sheet of butcher paper to the living room floor and leave a basket of crayon rocks in the middle

First attempt at strewing, fancy word for
leaving out art supplies where littles can find it

How fun does crayon rocks sound?! So today my experiment was to tape drawing paper to the top of the coffee table and leave out ink pads and stamps. Before I could finish Creed was investigating asking questions and we were off stamping right and left. While he was napping I laid out watercolors, a water can and some brushes. When we woke he came over and sat with me rocking in the chair and I saw him see the paint. I love to see those expressions! After he lost interest in that we played with stickers. When he wakes in the morning I'll change the medium again. Not only did Creed have fun with it, daddy was painting too! After I finished a project in the kitchen I joined in as well. What a fun day! I've decided to keep it up and use the paper for Christmas wrapping.

The introduction explains how art encourages neural connections (sight, sound, touch, smell and taste, depending on activity); builds fine motor skills, gripping a paintbrush, drawing, mixing, cutting, etc.; how scribbling is a precursor to writing; develops problem-solving skills; helps children understand themselves and their world; and helps children connect with one another. I definitely plan on using this knowledge especially when socializing. I can tell it's going to take me a while to go through this book, but I'm drinking it all in, more like gobbling it all up!