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The Art of Creation
Raising Creative Kids By Shel Franco
Even with all the precautions taken, finger painting might not be something you want to experience every afternoon. This is where the simple joy of markers, crayons and pencils comes in.
Provide your child with a wide array of drawing tools. Washable markers can be found with tips of all shapes and sizes. The same goes for non-toxic crayons. Then, throw in a set of colored pencils for even different textures.
Half the fun is drawing on all sorts of paper. From construction paper to old checks, your preschooler will have a blast experimenting with splashes of color. Stock a drawer or cupboard with scrap paper, old checks or deposit slips, surveys, index cards and, of course, traditional coloring books and drawing tablets. "Just keep lots of construction paper and recyclable materials on hand," Parker says. "And using your imagination, you can create hours of good family fun you will all remember for a long time."
You might be glad to know that while an enjoyable activity for preschoolers, projects with a planned outcome are just as well left for special occasions. "Remember, for preschoolers, it's the process of exploring and creating, not the final product, that counts," Kohl says. "Products are inevitable, and they are fun too, but the exploring and creating is what matters."
In other words, it's quite all right if your child would rather scribble randomly on a piece of construction paper, and your input and direction is not really necessary. "Join in, but don't make models or samples for them to copy," Kohl says. "Engage in conversation and laughter with them as they create." If your child asks for help, Kohl advocates offering suggestions, but she firmly believes that parents should never write on, cut up or transform the child's art work.