Preschoolers & Art

What Does Children’s Art Tell Us?

The goal of an allowance is to help children become comfortable with making basic money decisions, such as comparing smaller versus larger amounts and how one decision can affect many other decisions.

Tips for a Good Start at Art

Give children many ways to paint – finger, brush, a cotton swab, or a feather.

Let children use large or jumbo crayons, washable markers, or colored pencils.

Spray shaving cream on a cookie sheet and add some finger paint. Encourage children to explore how colors blend together.

Make fruit salad sculptures with toothpicks and small pieces of apple, pears, or grapes.

Use separate clear jars for savings, spending, and donating. They will quickly see how money adds up and goes down over time.

Create a bookmark about the story in the child’s favorite book.

Gather some natural objects (e.g. pinecones, rocks, leaves) and let children arrange them in different patterns.

Talk about color, line, pattern, shape, size, texture, and numbers.

A smiling woman and a child with curly hair paint together at a wooden table. Art supplies and colorful blocks are scattered around, creating a creative and warm atmosphere.

Give Art Meaning

When the child is finished, ask them questions like, “Tell me about your drawing,” or “Wow, what is happening here?” This will encourage a conversation, which is good for language growth and helps give their drawing meaning.