Teaching Kids Art Through Picture Books
Literature based art ideas for you and your family
Create a birthday memory with these simple ideas
October is a special month in our family--both my husband and son celebrate in October, so a few weeks ago I made a video tutorial of a cake drawing for you and your kids.
Today I want to encourage you to invest in something that lasts for the birthday loved one, whether it is an experience, a physical gift, or both.
What gifts do you still have (and value) from your childhood? What good gift memories do you have from your childhood?
My birthday is a week after Christmas, so the gifts I receive are sometimes both Christmas and birthday gifts. One of the most memorable gifts that I still have and value I remember receiving as a little girl. We had some gifts under the tree that were covered with a sheet so we couldn't see them until after we had eaten breakfast and had a family worship service. There we were, tantalized by the sight of the sheet, getting more and more excited for the big reveal. At last it happened--the sheet was lifted and my sister and I saw the gift for both of u...
Let's draw a birthday cake!
Birthdays are pretty exciting to kids, and it doesn't have to be their birthday for them to eagerly anticipate the celebration. Mom's birthday, Dad's, a sibling's, or a friend who has invited them to a party all are reasons to get really happy about birthdays.
At our house, birthdays were always celebrated whether you were a child or a grownup. We still decorate with streamers and balloons, funny hand-made signs ("Happy Birthday," proclaimed one written by my teenaged son to his sister, "23 is such a prime number!") a selected meal, presents, and a birthday cake of the birthday person's choice. I wanted our kids to know they were dearly loved and an important member of our family and God's family. It is my prayer that these birthday traditions helped them feel seen, known, and loved by God and also loved by us.
Cake decorating is NOT my forte, but one year when I was feeling particularly ambitious, I made a princess castle cake for my daughter, which she in turn improved on and made...
Picture books about famous artists
With Storygalorey in person classes starting up last week, I wanted to give you a sneak peak into the artists we will be getting to know this year in case you wanted to read about them at home with your kids. Most of these artists are very well known, like Van Gogh, Picasso, and Monet. But while some recognize the art, many don't know about the artist or how the art came to be. Reading picture books is a great way to enrich your kids' art education.
I have more suggestions than we have time to read at Storygalorey, so whether or not your kids are able to participate this fall, you can enjoy reading with them and see their creativity take off. I sent this booklist a few years ago. I'll add a few new additions, too...good books are always appearing!
Download now
Here are a few more to add to your list: (Amazon associate links)
Breaking Waves: Winslow Homer Paints the Sea by Robert Burleigh and Wendell Minor-this one made me want to board a plane and immediately take a trip to Maine...
...How to help your kids learn to serve
Who was the most influential person in your life, as a mom?
Was it your own mom? An older friend or relative? A teacher?
For me, I was blessed to have my own mom model parenting--not perfectly, but certainly meaningfully. She modeled service to our family and to others. As the pastor’s wife, she was constantly having people over or counseling someone on the phone. She led the PTA. She exuded enthusiasm and joy in life. And, by the way, she loved to read. If the door to the small downstairs room we called 'the den' was closed, we knew she was having a moment to herself to either take a nap or read one of her beloved romance novels!
As parents, all of us are actually influential leaders. We are pretty unrecognized in the culture, but with or without social media, we are the influencers. Leaders lead. Leaders serve. Leaders model. We are highly influential within our families, hopefully for their good. The best leaders serve those around them. They aren’t flashy or demand the spotlig...
Back to School Name Art
Today I'm going to share a special book and art project perfect for the beginning of the school year. It is art illustrating names, and since your child's name is as special and unique as they are, I know they will have fun drawing their names. Even if your child shares a name with a million other kids, there is only one of them. They are unique and precious to you and to God, and they are created in His image. He or she is the only one of them there is!
Do you ever talk to your kids about their names? I mean, do you tell them the story of how you picked out their first and/or middle names, what they mean, or why you chose it?
My husband and I, like most new parents, debated for months over name choices for our kids. As our family grew, of course the siblings weighed in on their opinions for name preferences--sometimes with hilarious ideas. We wanted our firstborn to be as imaginative as Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes, plus we felt it was different without being weird. We thought we w...
How to plan for a great summer with kids
I hope you are enjoying each day of the glorious season of Spring-flowers! sunshine! warmer weather! At the same time, I know the end of the school year for moms brings so many end of the year activities. There are concerts, sports games and tournaments, and award ceremonies. It's fun...and crazy at times. Keeping up with fitting it all on the calendar can feel like you need a degree in something other than what you actually got your degree in!
But when the craziness of May dies down, it's great to have a somewhat intentional plan going into the summer.
Here are four tips for transitioning from school to summer:
- Plan some downtime for everyone to rest. Even if it is just a day, it is important to have some unscheduled time to allow for you and your kids to decompress, to rest, to play.
- Celebrate as a family. Take time to go out for ice cream or whatever your family considers special, to celebrate the end of the year. Each family member can share a highlight or a thing they are than ...
How to Make a Simple Mother's Day Card
🌸Happy Mother's Day !🌸 to all you mamas and grandmas whose work often goes unseen, but yields fruit forever in those children you are pouring into with love day after day after day. You are doing good work! I love meeting your kids and getting to see the next generation being shepherded and loved so well. Thank you for the work you do. I see you; I honor you, and I am honored to stand with you as a mom and grandma--awed by the scope of this calling.
To celebrate moms, I wanted to give your kids some help making cards--which ironically, you probably will have to help them make! But maybe you can use this idea to help your kids make cards for your own moms or a person you want to honor who is like a mom to your kids.
You will need these supplies:
- a blank card or piece of paper and an envelope (if you intend to mail the card)
- colored scrap paper like an old catalog, construction paper, wrapping paper, old cards
- scissors
- glue
Step 1: Gather your supplies
Step 2: If you are mai...
Faith Based Easter Books for Kids
You know how when the seasons change, it feels like suddenly none of the kids has the appropriate clothes to wear that are big enough or small enough or cool enough or warm enough? Besides the change of clothes, some of us change our homes. A warm day comes, and we look up and realize the snowflake pictures no longer seem right. At this time of year, I like to put decorations around my home that say Spring is almost here!
Those visual cues are important to you and your families. Here's a way you can help your kids get in step not only with the change of seasons, but the reality behind the season of new life--the resurrection celebration is the reason for hope. The seemingly dead flowers and trees burst into life to re-enact the resurrection truth that Jesus defeated death.
Helping kids understand Easter is easier when you use picture books. Just like at Christmas time, you can show your kids the reason for the Easter celebration by reading aloud. Here are a few to get you started. F...
How to help kids enjoy art without perfectionism
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When we are learning a new skill, we need to encourage ourselves that it takes practice and to keep trying. Mastery doesn't come overnight, and when it comes to drawing, most of us are still learning. Have you heard the phrase, "Practice makes perfect?" When I was growing up, I sure did, and I probably said it to my kids, too. But lately, I think I prefer the phrase, "Practice builds confidence," or, "Practice helps us grow." ("practice makes proficient?") What do you think is a better thing to say to kids as they are learning something new? Especially in art, trying for perfection is an exercise in frustration and an encouragement to just quit. Who of us can ever draw perfectly? With growing children, perfect doesn't need to be the goal. A better goal as they are learning is the goal of accomplishing trying something new and not giving up when it's hard. Learning a new skill is hard, and practicing that skill until we feel somewhat comfortable with it is something to applaud ... |
Helping kids not to be afraid of messing up
I ran across this quote by cartoonist Scott Adams this week: “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” We learn quite young to try not to mess up. We want to please others, we don’t want to be punished, we want to be the best in the class. It is hard to turn off all of those motivations when it comes to being creative.
Art is about learning a skill as well as being creative, so there is legitimacy in trying to follow instructions well. But how to balance learning to be creative with fear of not messing up?
Last week we were talking about fear of messing up (FOMU) and how powerfully that fear affects all of us when it comes to creating art. Did you know that you can encourage your kids and yourselves to quiet that fear of messing up so creativity--and art--can flourish?
Here are some simple suggestions to combat the fear of making mistakes while trying practicing creativity in art. This applies when learning any new skill, whether you are...
