Creating Simply.
As an avid hobbyist, I am starting to take pride in the variety of artistic media I have at my disposal. A tabletop easel and various watercolors, gouaches, an iPad with drawing apps, papers of varied weights and tints, oil pastels, crayons, tempera and acrylic paints, colored pencils and watercolor pencils, and the list goes on. But, for many parents, less can and is more. Children too often find it easier when there are a few options rather than so many that they feel overwhelmed—and so that’s where I want to begin. In this post I look at painting, drawing, and 3-D Creation and detail a few of the key items I’d want to have on hand for an engaging creative experience with young children.
The first thing to remember is that quality beats quantity every single time. A few materials, rotated appropriately and displayed attractively is so much better than every material thrown into a table or a basket. The caveat I have for each of these is that it’s important to spend, if you have the time, a minute or two setting things up so that your children can see what they’re working with and work to make an informed intentional choice from the materials you’ve set out.
Before you Start: Take Stock.
What materials do you have already? Place everything out onto a table and sort it—what’s working and what isn’t? Throw away the crayons so broken they can’t be used (crayons broken in half are, at least in my book, just fine!), say goodbye to dried out paints and mangled brushes, bid adieu to used-up glue sticks, dry markers, and pencils with cracked lead, etc. Bye, bye, bye. Don’t be afraid to let go! (And, of course, feel free to hold onto anything in perfect working condition!)
Painting.
A paint palette for mixing colors. While the colors out of the tube or tray can be appealing, there is something special about mixing your own, or at least having the option to.
A set of mixed media brushes for all of the many sorts of painting your child may wish to do.
Watercolor paints such as these in a classic format. If your child is a bit more adventurous, you may choose to go with tubes.
Tempera paints for when you want something more vibrant. Again, some may prefer the tempera paints that squirt, but tempera cakes may be the answer if you’re short on space and want something your child can do with a bit more independence.
Drawing.
Classic pencils and a trustworthy eraser, of course, are the staples of any solid drawing practice for young and old alike. In addition, two materials are currently atop my favorites list when it comes to working with young children are:
Rock crayons quickly became my go-to crayon in setting up my classroom provocations when I first found out about them last year. They are easy to hold, difficult to break, and come in a variety of attractive colors. (Available in sets of 8, 16, or 32—and in bulk).
Oil pastels are rich in color and have a texture that satisfies as you move it across the page. As if this weren’t special enough already, they are also perfect for melding and mixing colors together.
Mixed and 3-D Media.
A hearty glue, like Tacky glue or wood glue in order to hold all of the moving and variously-sized parts and pieces together.
Model Magic is a wonderful, airy material you can use to create so many things. While I do not recommend it for making large sculptures, it can be a great way to add dimension and volume to a sculpture. Note: It is not a replacement for playdough or clay, each of which has its own time and place.
Some sort of craft wire (pipe cleaners are also a potential alternative for this), that allows you to stick things together, bend and transform figures, etc.
Carboard scraps and other packaging from just about anything! Bottle caps, Styrofoam inserts, craft paper, cartons, etc. Use your imagination and don’t be afraid to try something new—that is, after all, where we have the most fun.
I’m curious—what other ideas do you have?
Cheers,
Ron