Encouraging a Love of Art with Art Activities for Preschool Children

The preschool years are an amazing time! Naturally curious and creative, your preschooler is open and eager to learn about the world around him. Encouraging your child to love art will be easy at this age. Preschoolers love color and shapes and have a natural desire to create. Seize the chance to develop your preschooler's natural creativity by providing art activities throughout the week.

There are many different art activities for preschool children that parents can use to encourage a natural love of art. Exposing preschoolers to famous painters and their creations will develop an interest and a desire to see and experience more of this fascinating subject. Here are a few specific ideas of art activities for preschoolers:

• Weekly artist study using prints of famous paintings. Choose an artist for the week. Talk a bit about the artist's life, his style, and his famous works. Display a print of one of the works during the week. Discuss the technique and what you like about the artwork. Help your child try to copy the artwork.
• Visit museums and art galleries. Preschool children can enjoy an outing such as this. Be sure to discuss what you saw.
• Give your preschooler the freedom to create-don't worry about staying in the lines or following the directions.
• Keep a well-stocked art supply box handy for your preschooler to use when the mood strikes. Move on from basic crayons and watercolors to pastels and watercolor tube paints. Use chalk and charcoal, markers and mixed media. Textured papers are also available. A selection of embellishments is fun-glitter, feathers, and stickers are just a few possibilities.

The most important thing is to have fun. Art should be thoroughly enjoyed, and every individual will have a different viewpoint, even preschoolers!

Just as Willa writes in Art in the Life of a Young Child, it is important to give your preschooler the room to create freely and with originality. Try not to dwell on the typical crafty style of art for your preschooler. Encourage your child to study great works of art and to mimic those artists. You'll be surprised at your child's natural ability.