Teaching Kids Art Through Picture Books

As  a follower of Jesus, I love thinking about how to incorporate our faith into everything we do as parents and grandparents. Since children are always watching and catching and observing, it's important to take every opportunity to share the wonderful truths we believe with them. Today in keeping with the "Space" theme,  I wanted to reflect on what a peek into the heavens taught me this month.

As I observed that amazing total solar eclipse--the moon covering the sun completely--for 4 rare minutes in Indianapolis on April 8, I was overwhelmed with awe at our Creator and His creation. One of my takeaways from this experience was that I could actually see the sun gradually disappearing behind the moon, and yet...it was still mostly light outside!

Here the sun is almost covered by the moon--but--look how light is still is!:
On the left below, the sky is still blue but the sun is mostly covered (my camera didn't capture well) and on the right, the sky got...

I am interested in Space...but my husband, kids, and granddaughter are REALLY interested in Space! Since my granddaughter was visiting, it was fun to think about doing some glow in the dark Space art to share with her and other children this past weekend. If you want to take your kids' art out of this world, try this with us. 

You will need scissors and glue and about 30 min. to do this project.

Grab your glow in the dark art supplies. If you don't have any, just grab any art supplies you have. Kids will still get to make a fun space picture, it just won't be glow in the dark. Not sure what I'm talking about? Read what glow in the dark art supplies I recommend here. Here's one more recommended by reader Debbie R: Elmer's Glow in the dark glue!

You'll also need a piece of black or purple paper and a piece of any other color of paper, plus some different sized circles to trace. I used a canning lid, a plastic tub, and a spray can lid. Use a variety...

If you are looking for a fall art idea to do with your kids, here is one I love to do as often as I can. This pumpkin collage uses these simple materials:

• scrap paper
• scissors
• glue

These pumpkins will add a bright spot to your fall decorations and give your kids a fun activity to do! I used my pumpkin collage to decorate my windows. Since it's my husband's birthday, I wrote Happy Birthday on mine to wish him lots of love!

Collage is a great art activity to do with kids of all ages. The youngest ones love to simply cut and glue. As they get older, they can pay more attention to shape and detail. Watch the video, and feel free to let them improvise as they go. 

It's always an educational boost to pair reading with art, so grab this list I made for you listing ten of my favorite fall picture books. Your kids will enjoy looking at the different kinds of illustrations and photographs of pumpkins, and you'll enjoy reading these pumpkin picture...