Exploring and experimenting is extremely important to promote independent thinking and creative development. I will share with you some ways that helped me control the “mess” when my own children were creating at home.

1. Choose a Space and Keeping it Clean- Where is an easy place to spread out and make art? Sometimes I found the kitchen table was best, however maybe an open space on the floor will do. I always keep plastic table cloths or newspaper handy (even when I’m making art at home). A piece of heavy fabric or canvas is good for more contained projects. For messy experiences, I have a shallow box (a copy paper box lid is great) or a shallow plastic bin. This is great for making slime, glitter, sand or homemade clay. If you don’t have a shallow container, make one by cutting down a box to a couple inches high or fold up and secure the sides of a newspaper to create a contained space. We often deny our kids of these experiences but if we teach them the responsibly of keeping it contained and how to properly put it away, it’s a win for everyone!
2. Create an Art Center to Access Materials-. Organize a shelf, a box or rolling cart with kids’ art supplies, and let their creativity flourish while you are nearby. As a child, my siblings and I had a drawer of our china cabinet that was always full for free access. If you consolidate their supplies to one space and have a dialog of what supplies they can use, this promotes independent making and problem solving.
3. Gather Materials- What can we make art from? Gather office supplies, old toys, game pieces, playing cards, discarded found objects, junk drawer finds, old shoes, worn out clothes (especially t-shirts for making weaving yarn, see link listed with “Art Material Alternatives”), old screws, kitchen items, coffee filters, yarn or string etc. Collect recycled materials, such as card board boxes, scrap papers, magazines, newspaper, Styrofoam meat or vegetable trays, plastic containers and bottles.
4. Fill your Art Center with Supplies- Many families have scissors, glue, basic paints etc., but keeping them in one place AND guiding your children through proper use of these tools, empowers them to be independent. Standard supplies are: crayons, markers (water-based and permanent), watercolor paints, tempera, poster, finger or acrylic paint, Elmers glue, glue stick, brushes, containers for water, masking tape and glue gun. Many of you may have concerns with small children using permanent markers or a glue gun, but like using scissors, a conversation of safety and caution is a must. Make sure that your child has old clothes or an art apron to wear. When using a glue gun, I keep an old cutting board or old cake pan for the glue gun to rest when not being used. A pair of old gloves prevents burns.

Now you are ready! What to make?   IF your child is stuck with what to make, create a list of prompts and challenges together for them to respond to. For younger students it can be simple, such as, “an animal that hides, a rainy day, a mash-up of 2 animals, etc. (Please see my art prompts and challenges tab for examples). As students get older, it is essential that we promote that artists don’t always just make things that are worthy of hanging on the refrigerator. I am a BIG believer of this.  Sometimes we need to make prototypes, sketches and experiment to come up with solutions to problems. We need to stretch possibilities and explore “Conveying a Message”. How can we create a mood? Explore a theme that brings awareness? Why do artists make art? Looking at art (analyzing) and exploring the meaning or the intended meaning is a common practice in the art room. This gives them to knowledge necessary to convey meaning in their own artworks.