Many parents are intimidated at the thought of "teaching" their children about the arts, especially if a parent doesn't feel knowledgeable about the topic. But even parents with no formal training can provide children with valuable art lessons.
Teaching Art through Looking Games
One of the easiest ways to introduce children to the arts is to play looking games with them. Walk around the neighborhood or the park and discuss colors. Point out the different shades of greens. Notice the variety of blues in a lake or pond. Look at the cracks in the sidewalk and talk about lines. Gaze up in the sky and look for unusual shapes in the clouds. Use a trip to the grocery store to talk about colors and shapes. Notice the color of oranges and bananas. Look at the way they are stacked and talk about what they would look like if they were stacked differently.
Teaching Art through Listening Games
Another way to introduce the arts is through listening games. Help children become more aware of the sounds around them. Get out several glasses and put in different amounts of water. Tap lightly on the side of the glasses with a spoon and let children hear the change in notes. Take it a step further and try to tap out a simple song on the glasses. Allow children to bang on the pots and pans. Ask them to compare the sound of a big pot with a little pot.
Find other items around the house to identify wooden sounds, metal sounds, shaking sounds, and scraping sounds. Better yet, make some musical instruments with them. Finally, play a variety of music and have them listen for the differences in the styles and tempos. Don't forget to dance and sing along with the music.
Besides helping children discover art around them, there should be plenty of materials around the house for them to explore on their own. Put together an art box and a music box.
Art Box
- Paints: water color or finger paints
- Paint brushes
- Colored pencils, crayons, markers
- Scribble pads, construction paper
- Glue or glue sticks
- Safe scissors
- Ruler
- Yarn or string
- Fabric scraps, buttons, pom poms
- Other nontraditional items: bottle caps, paper clips, dice, etc.
Music Box
- Jingle bells
- Empty coffee can with lid
- Wooden spoons
- Tin foil pans
- Wooden blocks
For parents who want to take it to the next level, there are always music and art lessons available for kids of all ages. It is never too early to introduce a child to the arts. By providing children with opportunities to observe art and express themselves, parents can spark an interest in the arts that will last a lifetime.
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