Open Ended Art Starter

If you haven't done open ended art at home before, here's a way to start. Open ended art is meant to open the creative mind while fostering independence, confidence, and skill building. If you have been doing adult directed activities- stop! While this may be fine in some incidences (doing an activity together, teaching a new skill), in general, for daycare and preschool ages, it can actually get in the way of their development. Play, true play, is child directed and how children learn and build skills. Your job is observe and to give opportunities accordingly.

You'll Need:

Whatever art and craft supplies you have

Directions:

Set up an art area. This can be at your kitchen table, at a play table, whatever works. Set up whatever you think your child will enjoy. Today's setup is to ease into open ended art, if it's not something you do regularly. You could put out safety scissors with some sort of paper (construction, tissue, etc). You could add glue sticks or stickers. You could add pipe cleaners or pom poms. Or instead, you could put out paint and paper. You could add soap and water to the paint and use sponge shapes. Or instead you could put out a mix of crayons, markers, and colored pencils with paper. Maybe add stickers. You can add objects to trace or glue.

It's totally up to you! Use what you have and what you think your child will enjoy. This should promote independent play and engage creative thinking.