As we bid goodbye to May and welcome the June holidays, parents are left with the exciting (and perhaps slightly daunting) task of keeping their little ones engaged and entertained.
Fortunately, holidays are not just about taking a break from academics but also an excellent opportunity to tap into every child’s creative side. This is why we’ve curated a list of three fun and engaging art activities that your preschooler can enjoy at home this June holiday season.
Art Activity #1: Finger Painting Extravaganza
When it comes to art activities for preschoolers, nothing beats the classic joy of finger painting. It’s an excellent way to introduce your child to the world of colours, shapes, and patterns.
Begin by dressing him in clothes you don’t mind getting paint on. Next, provide a variety of non-toxic, washable paints in shallow dishes for easy access.
Your child can then start painting! Encourage him to mix colours, make different marks, or even use his whole hand or arm. Afterwards, consider adding textured items to the paint, like sand or rice, to make different sensory experiences. You can also use objects such as leaves, sponges, or toy cars to create prints and patterns in the paint.
Art Activity #2: Collage Making
Collage making is another brilliant art activity to encourage creativity in your preschooler this June holiday.
Start by collecting a range of collage materials – a wonderful opportunity to go on a “scavenger hunt” with your child around your home or even in nature to gather interesting materials to use. Then, help him cut out the pictures, patterns, or shapes he wants to use in his collage. This is also a great chance to improve his fine motor skills.
Next, let your preschooler arrange the cut-outs on the base without gluing them down. Give him time to experiment with different layouts and ideas. He can start gluing the pieces down once he’s happy with the arrangement.
Encourage your preschooler to layer the pieces and play with different textures and colours. He can make a themed collage like a nature or family collage, or an abstract arrangement of things he likes. As he cuts and pastes different images and materials, he also learns to weave together a visual narrative.
Once the collage is complete, ask your little one to tell a story about it. He could describe what’s happening in the collage or tell a story about the images. This can be the stepping stone to inventing stories and expressing thoughts, both critical aspects of creative thinking.
Art Activity #3: Puppet Making
Crafting puppets is another enjoyable activity that combines art and creative play. Start by deciding what kind of puppet your child wants to create. It could be an animal, a favourite cartoon character, or even a fantastical creature from their imagination.
For basic puppet making, you’ll need the following:
- Paper bags, socks, or cardboard
- Non-toxic glue
- Safety scissors
- Craft supplies like googly eyes, felt, yarn, paint, markers, and any other embellishments your child might enjoy.
To make a sock puppet, use a clean, old sock and let your child’s hand serve as the mouth. Next, glue googly eyes at the top of the sock and use yarn for hair, felt for ears or mouth, and any other materials to create the puppet’s features. Afterwards, build a small puppet theatre at home using a cardboard box or a curtain.
Encourage your child to put on a puppet show. This could be a retelling of a favourite story, a completely new tale, or even a day in the life of the puppet. This is a fantastic opportunity for him to engage in imaginative play and creative storytelling, vital for his cognitive and emotional development.
Tips To Hone Your Preschooler’s Creativity
- Process over product: Remember, the goal is not to create a “perfect” artwork. It’s about exploring, experimenting, and having fun. Encourage your child to try new things and not worry about what their art looks like.
- Art space at home: Set up a designated art space where your child can get messy and be creative. This could be a small table covered with newspaper, a corner of the living room, or even outdoors.
- Provide choices: Let your preschooler choose their materials and what they want to create. This fosters independence and creativity.
- Celebrate effort: Display your bub’s artwork around your home, which can help boost his confidence and encourage him to continue creating.
- Involve storytelling: Incorporate storytelling into your bubba’s art projects. This encourages creative thinking and can also enhance his language skills.
Nurture Your Child’s Creativity With MindChamps Preschool
Take the opportunity this June holiday to explore the above activities at home and turn your house into a vibrant art studio!
Over at MindChamps Preschool, we also encourage children to express themselves with our internationally-acclaimed curriculum and preschool learning activities. We maximise the advantages of creative play for kids by integrating our unique Enquiry Teaching and Learning™ strategy, stimulating the curiosity of our preschoolers about topics covered in our early childhood education programmes.
The best part? All these come together beautifully in our evidence-based S.M.I.L.E.S.™ methodology, fostering a well-rounded learning experience.
Contact us to find out more about our programmes, or arrange for a visit to any MindChamps PreSchool near you now.