Setting Up An Art Station at Home
Art is a medium for self-expression and helps a child construct himself. Research indicates art is a powerful tool in decreasing emotional stress for children. If you’re thoughtful about how you organize your child’s art-making space and what you include, it can have an immensely positive effect on how they learn and appreciate art. The art area should be a place where your child has the freedom and autonomy to use any of the open-ended supplies to create their own artwork. Encourage your child’s inner artist by making it readily accessible to the child, orderly, and with limited materials.
“Art is a place for children to learn to trust their ideas, themselves, and to explore what is possible.”
1. Location
Art can be messy! Choose an area in your home where mess is welcomed such as your kitchen. Select a low, sturdy table and chairs that are child-accessible. If you have multiple children, opt for two smaller separate tables next to each other to distinguish their spaces.
2. Personalize
Invite your child to make the space visually appealing with you. Add a vase with fresh flowers from the garden that they cut and arranged. Inspire them with interesting artwork at a low level. Display a piece of their artwork in these rotating frames to let them see that you respect their creations. Tape a photo of the child on each table to customize their area.
3. Organization + Storage
Keep materials orderly and compartmentalized. This caddy can hold markers, pencils, scissors, tape and even a blank notebook. Add name letter stickers to each child’s caddy as well. Keep rags and smocks nearby on a low hook. Have a waste basket by their art corner so the child can discard any scraps independently.
For individual projects such as gluing, watercolor, and clay - prepare the materials on a tray.
Not sure what to do with your child’s completed artwork from school or home? Decide on a space where they can put it when finished such as a drawer with labeled name trays. Keep extra supplies in labeled small storage bins. If space is limited, a rolling art cart can be a great resource.
4. Materials
When selecting art supplies, observe and follow your child’s interests.
Pay close attention to which materials capture their focus. This will give you ideas for activities. Less is always more. Start with 2-3 open-ended materials out at a time.. Take time to show your child how to properly care for the materials and use them.
Offer supplies that are age-appropriate. After watching them, make adjustments if they are not ready for the materials. If your child isn’t successful with putting caps on markers yet, thicker crayons for tripod grip and colored pencils may be better suited. Plus, children love sharpening pencils. These are some favorite supplies for all ages - watercolor, hey clay, sticker book, tape dispenser, and these melissa and doug notebooks for home, to take in the car or to a restaurant.
5. Rotate Materials
To keep the child engaged and not overwhelmed, it is important to rotate the art supplies often. Maybe you rotate them seasonally or with the holidays? Change it up as their interests and skills evolve!
Art is a form of communication and language for children.
Give your child the opportunity to combine fine motor skills and techniques to express themselves in a creative way. Resist the urge to direct or comment on their art while they are focused. Be intentional when preparing and maintaining their art space, and enjoy watching your child engage in arts and crafts every day. Often on their own initiative or will.