Drawing

October Art Fun and Play for Kids

When a colleague shared this amazing October art, it reminded me we haven’t had any art activities recently, so how about some October art fun for kids?

October art fun for kids - Roberta Malasomma

Fall announces itself with bright, warm colors. For inspiration, maybe take a walk with kids just to notice the red, yellow, orange, and brown. Check out trees, flowers, berries, and plants. If you are at the store, there could be shining orange pumpkins, red apples, golden pears, and various colored squash. So much to see.

fall art play

After eyes have had a chance to look at these colors, kids can sort thru the crayons, chalk, paint, and markers they have at home. This is a thinking challenge for brains that have to remember the colors and then match them. It involves more than memory as kids compare a crayon in the hand to one in the head. Then, they have to come to a decision do they match or not. Not only is the brain visualizing, but it’s evaluating too. That’s a great deal of thinking to find some fall colors.

fall art fun

Once kids have picked out some colors to use, they can draw with them. If might only be some scribbly lines, or it might be a detailed picture. Whatever it is, kids are sharing their impressions. The creation may have nothing to do with fall. Kids may have come up with something entirely different.

fall art fun

Sometimes, as adults we say we can’t draw. Really, we can all draw, but some people are better at it than others. Do we ever say we can’t run? We may not all be Olympic or marathon runners, but we can still ran. The same is true for drawing. When we compare what we cook to chefs, we may not be able to create what they can, but we can still cook. Kids can all draw too. Not all children will have the same interest in drawing, but it’s an activity they can certainly all enjoy. Think of crayons, paints, markers, and chalk as toys. Instead of expecting art work, the marks kids make on paper or sidewalks are art play. Kids are exploring and creating, engaged in another way to interact and make their mark on the world. What might your child do for some October art fun and play?

P.S. Thank you Roberta Malasomma for your art and inspiration!

P. P.S. You are invited to share your child’ art work play too on 123kindergarten’s Facebook page.

Olympic Art Activities for Kids: Olympic Games #12 – Art Wins Medal Too

Olympic art activities for kids aren’t just crafts. Nor are the Olympics just about sports. Did you know at one time, there were Olympic medals for art?

Olympic art for kids

From 1912 to 1948, art competitions were part of the Olympics. Medals were awarded in five categories for art inspired by sport. Sports and art do not contradict each other. In a way, the Olympic Games showcase them together. Think of the colors and designs that create a background for the sporting events.

Olympic art

Flags, fireworks and displays welcome crowds of people. Logos, team uniforms and costumes are crafted by professional artists. The gymnastics and synchronized swimming would be less visually rich and sensory if all the athletes wore just black.

Olympic art

For a change of pace and events, how about some Olympic art activities for kids? Get out some art materials and supplies as an invitation to play.

  • Olympic art for kidsSidewalks are like arenas for chalk art. Kids can draw in a much larger scale than with paper. When playing with chalk in driveways, be very careful of cars.
  • painting activities with kidsOutside or indoors, kids can paint. Did you see how artistically the walls are painted in Olympic facilities? A backyard fence makes a good wall and the paint can be plain water. Fill a bucket, give kids a wide brush and let them wash paint the fence.
  • shape art activities for kidsBesides paper, kids may enjoy painting on a large box. Several paper towel and tissue rolls dipped into different colors make an entire page of Olympic rings.

Crayons and makers are useful for more than walls. Got any old paperplates? They are an unusual alternative to sheets of paper.

teaching art to kids textureArt happens in 2-d and 3-d. The recycling basket often holds some great items for re-created art. So do kitchen cupboards. The wheels and the bottle cap on this picture are round like Olympic medals and make great art.

Sport and art share many aspects. Both include rhythm and form. One Olympic athlete won a medal in each. What kind of Olympic art might your child create?

Mother’s Day Gifts for Kids to Make

mothers-day-book-kids-makeThere are some wonderful Mother’s Day gifts for kids to make but this one seems to say what’s in our hearts using a few simple words and child drawings.

This special “I Love Mommy” booklet uses only one sheet of paper but the folding is quite tricky. There are photos for each step. Adult help needed.

1. Fold paper in half with a hotdog fold–long and thin. Crease sharply. Unfold.
2. Fold paper in half with a hamburger fold–short and wide. Crease well and this time keep folded.
3. Fold paper in half again with a hamburger fold and crease. The paper sort of looks like an extra long dollar bill.

4. Unfold the paper. There will be 8 little sections. They look too small to be useful but are just right for drawings.
5. Refold in half on the hamburger line and cut along the middle line on the fold edge but only to the crease! Just like you were going to cut it in half but stop after one long snip.
6. When you stand it up, the cut part bends out like a diamond.

7. Pull these 2 points right out.
8. Squeeze all these wings together and re-crease the sections.
9. As you lay it down, it has formed a wee book; the pages will turn and none will fall out. It all stays together. There will be 8 pages.

Grownups can print a short sentence on each page according to what kids say, or just a word or two for young toddlers. Kids add the drawings. The front cover is page 1 and the back cover is page 2. Some kids may be able to print on their own or copy from grown-up printing. This is what we did:

Page 1/front cover. I Love Mommy
Page 2. by ______________ (child prints name)
Page 3. Mommy makes ______________. (pancakes or other food)

Page 4. Mommy calls me ____________. (honey, princess, buddy, or nick name)
Page 5. Mommy likes ____________. (flowers, movies, books, etc.)
Page 6. I love Mommy.
Page 7. Mommy loves me.

Page 8/back cover. No words, just hugs and kisses. You can add the year.

Other family members can do this for moms or moms can do this with kids for a keepsake treasure. This is easy to mail. Kids whose moms have moved away or died can draw some memories: My mom read this story. My mom sang this song. We went for a walk. The kids can keep this book to remind them on Mother’s Day since they can’t be with their moms. Kids can make several of  these as gifts for grandmothers too.

These books are small, just like kids, but the memories and love fill hearts.

Art Play: Drawing Activities For Young Children

Double Drawing Art Play Activity When it comes to drawing activities for young children, hopefully your child has never heard you say “I can’t draw.” Drawing isn’t something that you ‘can’ do or ‘cannot’ do. We can all draw but some people are much better than others. I am not someone who draws well. I … Continue reading Art Play: Drawing Activities For Young Children

All We Really Need To Know We Learn From Play

Sometimes, ideas for fun, learning, and kindergarten readiness find me. Two days in a row the Goggle Doodle has inspired an idea for kids and play. Yesterday’s post was about the incredible Human Computer, Shakuntala Devi. From her book, Mathability and message that math ability depends on attitude, came some activities about counting, numbers and … Continue reading All We Really Need To Know We Learn From Play

Pirate Fun Activies for Kids #1: Drawing Maps

X shows where the treasure is on a pirate map, and drawing a map is a treasure of fun and learning that supports kindergarten readiness. Encouraging children to play with crayons, scissors, markers, and pencils before they start school, gives children some experiences but not all children are interested. Even those who are reluctant though, … Continue reading Pirate Fun Activies for Kids #1: Drawing Maps

Playground Fun, Learning, and Kindergarten Readiness #7

While waiting for time in the day to go to the playground or park, kids can draw about it for fun, learning, and kindergarten readiness. Drawing is both a play and a learning activity. When kids are drawing and coloring, they are exercising both muscles and brains. It’s easy to see how children are using … Continue reading Playground Fun, Learning, and Kindergarten Readiness #7

Kindergarten Readiness: Making Pirate Maps

X marks the spot for some kindergarten readiness fun and learning with making a pirate map. Pencil and paper activities do not appeal to all children. Some kids love to draw, color, cut, and paint, but others are not at all interested. But pirates need maps, and even children reluctant to try using any writing … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness: Making Pirate Maps