I have a super fun art project for you that is always a hit with my own kids. Creating art is a wonderful experience for people of all ages, especially during confusing and stressful times like this. But you don’t need to have a whole stock of art supplies to make something!
Before we begin, I want to emphasize that this is a PROCESS based art project. So what does that mean? Instead of focusing on a picture perfect end result, we are focusing on the process of creating.
For this project, the process will involve:
- Building fine motor skills
- Color recognition (talk about the colors you are using as you go!)
- Tactile input (compare what materials feel like: hard, soft, wet, sticky, etc.)
- Shape recognition
- Introduction to collage making and mixed media art (this helps to show kids that art can be much more than just paint and crayons, opening up those imaginations)
- Imaginative play and thought (the most important part of the process. Ask your child about their work and let them be in charge of the narrative)
Let’s get started!
For this project you will need:
- Cardboard cut into a shape. We chose a house and a heart because we are sharing love from home!
- Glue and/or tape
- Loose parts to decorate! Here are some ideas:
- Pom poms
- Buttons
- Washi tape
- Stickers
- Scrap fabric
- Sequins
- Bottle caps
- Scrap paper
Here’s how to get started:
- Place your objects, scraps, and loose parts on a tray, in muffin cups, or jars.
- Set out the cardboard shapes with some glue or tape and start adding the loose parts! It can be really helpful to start making one yourself so that your child can see the basics and get going.
- Let dry and admire your work!
The house on the left was completed by Dominik age 6 who said this was, “A unicorn person house!”
The heart on the right was completed by Vera age 2 who said this was, “A sticky heart!”
Here are some more ideas for art making at home:
- Sidewalk chalk in the backyard
- Paper mache
- Stickers and paper
- Expo markers on a mirror
- Cardboard box dollhouses
