Art-Making {Transition from School to Home}
The first thing my kids want to do when they get home from school is get a snack and veg-out in front of the television. (Admittedly, some days, that exactly what happens.) But my favorite thing to do with them after school is paint.
Paint is inviting. It's sensory. It's open-ended. Plus, they don't fight while they're doing it. AND, sometimes they actually tell me about their day while they paint!
| We don't always paint. Sometimes we draw or sculpt. I like to have an activity planned for them when they get off the bus. My favorite art activities are PROCESS-FOCUSED...meaning, that the emphasis is on the experience of creating the art instead of trying to achieve an end-product (we call that CRAFT). Here, I had dug out some forgotten colored pencils and a spiral notebook. Ava decided she wanted to fill her book with different monster drawings. She drew monsters. I drew monsters. And we talked about our day while dinner cooked. It's important to note that your kids don't care if you can draw. As a matter of fact, they probably think that you draw really well. (don't tell them otherwise) |  |
I put together a collection of some of my favorite art invitations for after school. These are invitations that are require very little prep on your part. Some of these may seem "too young" for your big kids, but never underestimate the older kids' desire to finger paint. (And how GOOD it is for them!)
Art Invitations
 Credit Card Painting |  Marshmallow sculptures |  Paper plate weaving |  Bubbling Art |
 Finger Painting |  Melted Crayon Rocks |  Graph Paper Drawings |  Art Journals |
Check some of these out. And, if you try one, or if you have your own favorites, tell me about it in the comments below!
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