Making Nature Prints in Sculpey
Maia and I finally made the nature prints with sculpey dough that Write, Mama. Write! posted about recently. What a wonderful texture project for a little kid!! Maia loved every step of it (as did I). I’m sure even older kids would get a lot out of it. Here’s how we did it… Nature Prints […]
Barbara Z. on Authentic Art for Preschoolers
Barbara Zaborowski teaches 4 year olds at Shadow Rock Preschool, a school in Phoenix, Arizona, committed to the importance of play and authentic art for young children. Here she talks about the school’s art curriculum and some of her favorite projects. JEAN: Will you tell us a little bit about Shadow Rock Preschool and your […]
Mixing Colors with the Mouse Paint Book
I recently checked the Mouse Paint book by Ellen Stoll Walsh out of the library (and liked it so much I bought it!). It’s a simple and fun picture book about three mice who find some paint and learn about mixing colors. The red mouse stepped into a yellow puddle and did a little dance. His red […]
Interview with MaryAnn F. Kohl on the Importance of Art
MaryAnn F. Kohl is an art educator and the author of numerous art activity books, including First Art, Scribble Art, and Preschool Art. I've used the activities in First Art extensively with Maia and with our Toddler Art Group. We've also started using Scribble Art and The Big Messy Art Book. I love that […]
The Dot :: A Book About Creativity and Confidence
I bought The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds recently and thought it was wonderful. It’s about a young girl who doesn’t think she can draw, but who has an amazing art teacher who encourages her creativity and artistic self-confidence. Maia enjoys The Dot and wants to read it several times in a sitting, but the book is […]
What if Your Child Wants YOU to Draw for THEM?
Several of you have asked me how to respond when your toddler or preschooler asks you to draw something specific for them, such as trucks or trains or circles. I have been stumped about this myself. Maia sometimes asks us to draw specific things as well, although more usually she asks us to write the […]
The Best Art Books for Toddlers
Here are our favorite art books for toddlers and young children. The Mini Masters board books combine the art with lyrical text. Each book by Julie Merberg and Suzanne Bober pairs art by one of the masters (Van Gogh, Degas, Monet, or Matisse) with simple, rhythmic text. We talk about the paintings a bit, but […]
Susan Striker’s 10 Cardinal Rules for Teaching Creative Art
Reprinted with permission from her book, Young at Art: Teaching Toddlers Self-Expression, Problem-Solving Skills, and an Appreciation for Art. 1. Let go of your own expectations of how an art project should be completed, and let the child's imagination decide how the art materials will be used. (Instructions can prevent exploration, which is the essence […]
When Will My Child Begin to Draw Realistic Images?
I'm wondering when Maia will begin to draw realistic figures. I feel like the mother of a baby waiting for her child to crawl or take her first steps! Here's an interesting site with illustrations (including the two above) showing the natural progression of children's art from the first scribbles to various stages of […]
Our Favorite Beautiful Picture Books for Children
These beautiful picture books for children combine gorgeous illustrations with family-friendly text. The whole family will enjoy these books! Updated April 2024 You can share beautiful art with your children every day by reading picture books. There are many wonderful artists out there illustrating books for children and we can see their art on a […]
The Beginning of The Artful Parent
Hello no one and everyone. My name is Jean Van’t Hul and I am mom to a 2 1/2 year old girl, Maia. It’s the beginning of a fresh new year and seems a good time to begin the blog I’ve been thinking about. I’m calling it The Artful Parent and plan to write about […]
