3-D Thanksgiving Turkey Craft for Kids

Thanksgiving is coming up and I’m loving thinking up crafty ways to make turkey art activities! We have quite a lot of wild turkeys roaming through my neighborhood (seriously, I saw one walking into the drive-through door of the carwash – I guess he needed a bath). They aren’t the prettiest of creatures. That said, creating turkey art poses some issues.

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Do you really want your preschooler making a realistic turkey? I can almost guarantee you that it won’t be anything that you’ll want to display at your holiday dinner. Instead, why not make a cuddly, cute looking little Thanksgiving pal?

I was about to toss an egg carton when it occurred to me that I could reuse it to make a 3-D turkey craft. Let your child get in touch with texture, shape and form during this holiday-inspired art activity.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        A cardboard egg carton

·        Scissors

·        Tempera or washable kids' paint

·        A paintbrush

·        Cotton balls

·        Clear-drying school glue

·        Googley eyes

·        Card stock paper

Here’s What to Do:

1.     Cut the egg carton so that you have two compartments and a divider together. Each compartment will become an eye, and the divider will become the beak.
 

2.     Cut a larger section of at least four compartments to make the body.
 

3.     Pour paint into the remaining egg carton compartments. Use fall colors such as yellow, brown, orange and red.
 

4.     Mix the paint into custom turkey colors. Your child can use the extra egg compartments to mix in.

5.     Paint the inside of the egg carton. Add a bit of orange on the divider for the beak.

6.     Let the paint dry.

7.     Dab glue onto the bottom of the egg carton pieces. Press the glue onto a piece of card stock paper.

8.     Glue one cotton ball in each “eye” compartment. Attach one googley eye to each cotton ball using glue.
 

 

9.    Cut a piece of red card stock paper into an amoeba shape to make the turkey's waddle. Fold the end under and glue it under the head.

10. Create the feathers. This is messy fun for your child! Dip a cotton ball into one of the paint pools (use the tempera that is leftover from paining the egg carton). Press another cotton ball into the first one, sharing the paint.

11. Glue the cotton balls onto the paper on the sides of the body. Repeat the painting and gluing process for as many feathers as your child wants to make.
 

Are you looking for more Thanksgiving art activities? Follow my Pinterest board for ideas!

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Kids' Art Storage: Ideas and Apps

I have boxes and boxes of my son’s art. I went back to work (teaching art to other kids) when he was 2-years-old. From his first morning of daycare on, he made project after project after project. That’s not even mentioning the stacks of random scribbles that his teacher would send home every day.

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As my work schedule changed, I moved my son to a half-day preschool. As any mom of a preschooler knows, cutting down on the number of hours that your child attends “school” doesn’t necessarily affect his artwork output. We had just as many fall apple prints, Thanksgiving hand-print turkeys, winter cotton ball snowmen and spring tissue paper flowers – regardless of the fact that he wasn’t at school all day long.

And then came kindergarten. Along with the uber-artsy stuff came the worksheets, alphabet charts and other assorted “learning” projects. I’ve always been fairly organized. So, as the artwork started coming in I tried to create a system. I had color-coded file folders that were labeled with the month and date. It didn’t seem crazy at first, but half a school year down the road things changed. I had such an overwhelming amount of artwork to keep straight that I had to make folders for the folders.

The folders then went into boxes. The boxes then went into the closet, and later on the basement. I started to wonder – what’s the use of saving all of this artwork if I’m never going to look at it? I mean, it’s sitting in the basement in a box after all. It just doesn’t seem like the best way to save my child’s art. I wish I had the wall space to display it all. But, that might require buying a museum-sized home.

I finally decided to photograph (or scan – depending on if the artwork was flat or not) the projects, and then catalog them on my computer. That way I could pull up the art whenever I wanted without having to venture into the depths of my musty basement. Instead of looking through files and folders for the Santa wreath that he made three years ago, all I had to do was point and click!

If you’re looking for an even more organized way of keeping track of your child’s artsy adventures, there’s an app for that. My son has moved past the watercolor Thanksgiving cornucopia stage (and into the math that I don’t understand anymore stage). I truly wish that some of these apps were around when he was a tot. It would have made my life so much easier.  If you’re looking for a way to keep your child’s drawings, paintings and clay play literally in the palm of your hand, check out these apps:

Artkive - Save Kids' Art - The Kive Company --You can add an artwork to your Artkive app, along with your little artist’s name, his age and the date that he made the imaginative work. You can also share the art directly with your family and friends, or through social media.

Kidpix: Save Your Kid's Art - Applaudable LLC -- This app also allows you to store your child’s artwork, add comments and share it through social media.

Art My Kid Made - Gramercy Consultants --Another app that allows you to photograph your child's artwork and upload it to an account that you create. You can share it through social media sites or print it (if you no longer have the original). It also works with Evernote, allowing you to backup and tag your child's uploaded artworks.

Keepy: The New Family Album - keepy Inc. --Keepy goes beyond just storing your child's art. Although it's an app for that, it also allows you to store family photos and add voice or video memos!

Now that you have a few ideas on how to (and how not to) store your child's art, are you looking for more crafts? Follow my Pinterest board for ideas!

 

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Why Are Art Museums Important for Your Young Child?

I’ve loved art museums for… well, for as long as I can remember. I grew up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, and going to the Carnegie Museum of Art (where I would later work, as an adult) was a big deal when I was a child. After all, we had to go through a tunnel and over a bridge to get there, so it must be worth the trip into the “city”, right? Right!

 

I vividly remember walking up the marble staircase to the art galleries – all the while wishing that the museum was my home. Fast-forward a few decades and I found myself teaching children’s programs at that same museum. I have to admit, even after sitting through teeth-grittingly horrendous morning rush hour traffic, I still felt like that giddy little kid when I walked into the museum. And, truthfully, walking into the museum in those pre-opening hours (when the only other people around where random security guards passing through) was almost like coming home.

That brings me to the actual art. Why take your young child to the art museum? There are benefits galore.  Early childhood, educational and human learning research provides answers (or at least qualified guesses) as to how and why art museums – and art viewing – helps young children developmentally. I don’t want to bore you with the stats and figures. Your child isn’t a number and truth be told she may not like visiting the art museum now – or ever. But, if she does, here are a few non-science reasons why art museums and the related viewing experiences are important for children.

It’s special. The park, the library, your backyard, preschool. What do all of these have in common? Your child probably goes to these places often. Not that they aren’t special in their own rites, but a museum is often a unique experience for a young child. Even if you only go to the museum once a year, that time will make a mark (and a memory) in your child’s mind.

It’s real. Even though I completely advocate for using books and reproductions to help kids interact with art, there’s nothing like the real deal. Monet’s Water Lilies is one of my all-time favorites. I feel fortunate to be able to take my students to the real painting (or at least, one of the paintings in the series). They can see the textures and layers of paint in a way that isn’t entirely possible in a book or on a poster.

It’s part of history. Imagine taking a group of 10 4- and 5-year-olds into a packed gallery that is filled with priceless works of art and artifacts. Yikes! And that’s putting it mildly. There was one day when an inquisitive 4-year-old put her tiny little hand out and reached to touch the Egyptian tablet fragment that was hung on the wall. The first thought that flashed through my head was, “Ohhhhhhh! That’s survived thousands of years, and it can’t survive a 4-year-old? Whether you’re looking at a 3,000 year old relic or an Andy Warhol silkscreen from decades ago, it’s a piece of history. Even though the young child can’t actually touch the art, she can imagine the artist who created it. She can think about the artist at the easel, and how his brush turned a blank canvas into what is now in front of her.

It’s able to create an impression. There’s a painting by the French artist George Rouault called “The Old King”. I really don’t believe that looking at it as a child necessarily made me smarter or gave my IQ a boost. But, it certainly made an impression on me. I couldn’t look away. Maybe in some way that opened my mind or sparked some creativity. I can’t say for sure, but I still love looking at it just as much today as I did then.

It’s universal. Art tells a story, minus the words. The language of a painting, sculpture or other type of artwork is symbolic – making it universal. The young child can take a trip around the world, and throughout time, without having to leave the museum’s walls.

Now that you know why museums and art art viewing are important for your child, here are a few tips on taking a toddler or preschooler into the hands-off environment. I wrote this article a few months ago while talking to some mommy friends and former co-workers. It seemed to fit well in this post, so here’s your bonus:

“Ooohhh! It’s a party!” Just as quickly as the words escaped from the 4-year-old’s lips, she was off and skipping towards the massive artwork. Maybe it was the seemingly super-size or the painting’s colorfully blank faced people, but there was just something about Maurice Prendergast’s “Picnic” that made every child under age six want to touch it.  It wasn’t the first, or even third or fourth, time that this exact same scenario had played out in my years of teaching young children. While most early childhood educators work in the safe (read as non-breakable) confines of a school or center, my classroom is a museum’s art gallery.

Real Kids, Real Art

Often thought of as sterile spaces where hushed voices are a must and sticky-fingered teetering tots aren’t welcome, art museums actually offer benefits galore for the young child.  Former Education Director for the Columbia Art League and early childhood educator Patty Jaconetta-Groening notes, “From my perspective in terms of visual art, I think it is essential for children to see original works of art in person rather than just have exposure to visual imagery in reproductions in the form of classroom posters, digital media, or illustrations in children's books. The visual experiences of texture, material, scale and physical space aren’t paralleled when viewing reproductions or digital imagery. Developing visual literacy is essential in our highly visual world, and exposure to a variety of visual media is an important component of that. On another note, a sense of belonging in an arts institution can be another important contributor to a child's self-concept, feeling that a museum or other art org is a familiar and fun place to go that the child feels welcome.”

So, you’re not a teacher or art history expert. That doesn’t mean that you can’t take your tots to the museum. Sara S., mom to three young girls, regularly takes her children to art museums. Why? When speaking about her oldest child (who is now 13) in her early years of experiencing art she says, “It was a fun way to introduce Abigail to great works of art, help her to see the components of the pieces such as color and shapes. To talk about what she sees, and help her learn to express her reaction to great art.” Even though she doesn’t worry about her kids “getting it” when it comes to understanding all of the concepts behind the works, she does note how exciting it is when her children make connections between something that they’ve seen elsewhere and the real art in the museum.  “Her school actually prepared Abigail well for a trip to MOMA a couple years ago. She had been learning about Van Gogh in school and turned the corner at the Museum and saw Starry Night - it was like she saw a celebrity!”  

Tips and Tricks

Keep in mind that even the best-planned trip to the museum can still make you want to pull your hair out. Megan M. said, of an artsy adventure with her 2- and 4-year-olds, “We only tried to take them to the art museum once. They wanted to touch everything and we were afraid that that they would break something.”  This tricky issue is echoed by Ms. Jaconetta-Groening, “Concerns for parents and museum/gallery staff of course pertain to the disconnect between safety of the artworks, and young children's naturally and developmentally appropriate need to learn through their senses, including of course, touch, and through physical movement.”

If you just can’t corral the kiddos, consider one of these ideas for making the museum more manageable:

·        Prep beforehand with a game. Some museums, such as the Getty, offer online games that introduce children to the world of art through matching, creation builders and other artistic activities.

·        Sign up for a children’s program or tour. Some art museums offer gallery tours or classes that are specifically for young children. For example, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ Young @ Art program includes a family-friendly themed gallery tour and art-making activities for children 2 ½ to 5-years.

·        Map it. Before you head out the door, ask if the museum offers a family guide. Major museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, provide family maps that feature spots to hit with your kids.

·        Get hands-on. Call ahead and ask the museum’s security staff if you can bring drawing or sketching materials into the galleries. They may allow you to take a sketchbook and pencils or crayons with you during your visit. Keep the kids busy by sitting them down in front of bold and colorful or patterned works, and let them sketch.  Jaconneta-Groening suggests, “ Ideally, museums and galleries would have ample touchables on hand in the gallery or in some sort of family backpack that kids can use throughout their visit, rather than just in one, hands-on area completely separate from the rest of the museum gallery experience.”

 

Are you looking for art activities that focus on famous artists? Follow my Pinterest board for ideas!

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Autumn Art Leaf Prints for Preschoolers

Leaf prints are some of the easiest fall art that your child can make. Seriously, your child needs all of three items to make this colorful project. I know, I know – traditionally autumn art is jam-packed with the colors of fall. But, this activity changes things up a bit and allows your child to use a rainbow of colors.

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Go outside and take a look at the fall leaves. What colors are they? Your child is going to answer. Yellow, brown, orange or red. That got me thinking – why keep the already colorful leaves the same hues? Why not change them? Let your little artist explore the wide world of colors to her heart’s content.  Give her a palette of paints that looks like a Crayola box. She can use the paint as is or mix and blend completely new colors. If your child is up for the mess (and you’ve prepped for clean-up), have her trade in the brush for her hands!

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        Tempera or washable finger paint—We used Crayola’s Washable Kids Paint.

·        Fall leaves

·        Paper

Here’s What to Do:

1.     Pour the paint into pools on a palette or a piece of wax paper. You can also use a plastic-ware lid to hold the paint.

2.     Coat the first leaf with paint. Have your child dip her hands into the paint and spread the colors onto the leaf. She can add one color, mix a few or make color blocks. If she’s mixing colors, try accompanying this activity with an art-themed book such as Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni or Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh.

3.     Turn the leaf over and press it onto the paper.
 

4.     Lift the leaf off of the paper. Save it to use for a fall wreath or as a stand-alone finger painting project.

5.     Repeat with different colors.
 

Are you looking for more fall art activities? Follow my Pinterest board for ideas!

 

 

Honey Nut Cheerios Cereal Cupcake Treats

There are two foods that both my son and I can always eat: Cereal and cupcakes! Ok, so a diet of carbs and sweets isn’t exactly healthy. But, since that’s not all we eat -- a little treat once in a while isn’t so bad. Cooking has never been my strong suit. I love eating, but really enjoy food more when someone else has prepared it. That said, I do enjoy getting a little creative with baking.

I’m not a from-scratch type of mom. A few years ago I tried to make the cookie cake that my son’s friend’s mom is kind of famous (in our suburb) for. The result? A rock hard disk that made my son say, “Mom, you really shouldn’t cook anymore.” So, my type of baking is more like jazzing up easy-to-make mixes. While I can’t make a marshmallow from scratch and my butter cream would make you look away, my “recipes” (I use this term loosely – as they are more of activity instructions) are perfectly suited for kids to try. If I can measure and mix; so can your 4year-old.

I’ve made all kinds of artsy-inspired cupcakes (Monet, Jackson Pollock), science-focused color mixing ones and an ooey, gooey s’mores version. This time I’m adding one of my favorite types of cereal (Honey Nut Cheerios) to cupcakes. Ever since my son could eat solid foods, he had a passion for Cheerios. Now that he’s older we’re mixing the honey nut version with some sweet icing to make a breakfast-inspired dessert!

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        Cupcake mix – You’ll also need items to mix in (eggs, water and oil).

·        Cupcake tin and liners

·        White frosting

·        Honey Nut Cheerios

·        Honey – The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents avoid giving honey to children under 1-year of age because of the botulism risk.

Here’s What to Do:

1.     Mix the cupcakes. Let your child measure and mix the ingredients.

2.     Pour the mix into the liners. Give your child a spoon so that she can help.

3.     Pop the cupcakes into the oven. Do this step yourself. Never allow your young child to use (or near) the oven.

4.     Take the cupcakes out of the oven – again, do this step yourself. Let the cakes cool.

5.     Fill a cereal-sized bowl with Honey Nut Cheerios. Have your child help you to crush the cereal. She can use her (washed) hands or she can smoosh the cereal with a spoon.

6.     Fill another bow with the frosting. Add a few drops of honey. Mix the honey into the frosting. Taste the mixture. If it’s not honey-flavored enough, add more.

7.     Sprinkle some of the crushed cereal into the mix. Make sure that the cereal is finely crushed to avoid a choking hazard.

8.     Frost the cupcakes.

9.     Add a sprinkle of cereal to the top.
 

10. Drizzle honey over the cupcakes.
 

Are you looking for more cupcake ideas? Follow my Pinterest board for sweets galore!

 

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Ribbon Resist Art for Kids

I’m a fan of tape resist art. But, all too often I find my son, the kids who I teach or myself pulling off the paper during the tape peeling process. I’ve tried loads of different tapes, and always have the same problem. Honestly, if you have a solution – please add it to the comment section. I’m completely willing to try it out.

This time instead of tape, we tried ribbon. It leaves behind the same negative space marks, but doesn’t require any messy peeling. As a bonus, it’s a fairly intricate fine motor activity. In order to start the art, your child will have to fold onto the ribbon and keep it still while putting on the paint. Believe me when I say, it’s also a lesson in patience and self-control. It also has an amazing ability to help the artist focus. Try it out yourself, along with your child. If you have work to do or just can’t seem to concentrate, doing this will re-focus your mind (and it’s always fun to make art alongside your child!).

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        Tempera or washable finger paints

·        Ribbon – Use one size or vary it up and try different thicknesses.

·        White or light-colored paper – I like card stock or poster board. They are thick enough to hold gobs of paint without curling, curving or getting holes.

·        Scissors

Here’s What to Do:

1.     Cut the ribbon into different sizes.

2.     Make a design on the paper with the ribbon. Your child can create an abstract pattern, shapes or letters. Remind her that the parts under the ribbon will stay the same color as the paper.
 

 

3.  Pour the paint into golf ball-sized pools. Use a palette, tray, plastic-ware lid or (my favorite) as sheet of wax paper.

4.  Finger paint the paper. Your child will need to use her critical thinking skills to figure out how to hold the ribbon still, while painting at the same time. The more paint that she gobs on, the more the ribbon will stay in place. She should cover the ribbon too. Encourage her to mix and blend the colors together.
 

5. Pull the ribbon off to reveal the art underneath!

Are you looking for more paint projects for your child? Follow my creative crafts Pinterest board for ideas galore!

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