Category — Learning at home

Ever have one of those mornings when you decided to let the kiddos veg in front of the television? It can be so alluring, the little bit of peace…the kids seem so content.

But then when it comes time to turn it off, instead of the sweet, grateful little cherubs you were expecting, you find them to be discontent and a little grumpy? Though it doesn’t happen here every time, it seems to happen quite often.

I admit, I’ve been letting the boys have too much screen time lately, and I’ve been reaping the consequences…creativity replaced with boredom, and giggles replaced with whining. I felt like we needed a little break from TV and video games.

During the week we don’t do much, but on the Saturdays that Dustin works I often let them watch TV and play video games all morning. This weekend I decided to try something. Just don’t turn it on.

Why not give them a chance to play on their own for a while…to come up with something to do? We could save screen time for a little later in the afternoon. But, you know what? It lasted all day.

The boys built together with wooden blocks. They made pirate ships with the couches. They drew treasure maps. They fought (and fought, and fought) and worked things out.

A church that accepts both people and cars

Corban built the SUV and trailer that he had been saving the noodle box for. (Didn’t get a picture of that yet)

And they made the best marble run yet!

Amazingly, I got more accomplished too.

There was a lot more energy and laughter, and a greater feeling of peace at home.

So, this morning when Jackson and I were waiting for H and P to arrive, instead of turning on Dinosaur Train we got out the “narbles” again. I think this is something we could continue.

Do you ever take a break from screen time?

Some pictures from the past week…

Not pictured:
The sink full of dishes
The Cheerios crunched on the floor
The kids watching Sesame Street while I lay on the couch (yes, I’ve also added a little TV time to our schedule, too.)

What has kept the little hands in your home busy this week?

I’ve heard so many moms share how difficult it is to find time in the day to do art projects, or how intimidating the subject is to homeschooling parents, especially if they’re “not an art person” (by their own definition). I can hardly blame them. If I had to spend the time figuring out what kind of project to do, going to the craft store to buy the glitter and pipe cleaners (which, by the way, gets expensive), and trying to convince my young children to sit down and do the activity, I would never do art projects with my kids. It’s easy to fall into the the presumption that an art project needs to be elaborate and needs to, well, look like something.

But it doesn’t have to. In fact, those are likely not art projects. If they contain step-by-step instructions and specific materials, they’re crafts. It’s completely understandable that the two would be confused. They look the same on the surface. They often use the same materials. But their educational purpose is very different.

Craft projects do have value. They teach children to follow directions and practice fine motor control, and they give the satisfaction of a completed project (and they make great gifts for grandma).

Art activities teach on a different level. Children learn things like creativity, problem-solving, abstract thinking, observation skills, and connections between subjects. And all of this, in my opinion, is best taught when projects are simple and open-ended. Open-ended simply means that the outcome follows the child’s lead.

Why open-ended activities are important:
-They can be much less intimidating and discouraging to children, since they don’t have to look like the teacher’s example. Children feel much more confident in their ability as an artist.
-They require more independent thinking and allow children to learn at a higher level.
-They encourage creative problem-solving. (Like balancing parts in a sculpture to keep it standing)
-Children begin making their own connections, and you’ll notice them using their art as a way of processing things they’ve learned.
-I have found that skills, like drawing and observation, progress more when the activities are child-led.
-They require much less planning and preparation, and the same activity can be done over and over without becoming boring or losing educational value.

Here are a few ideas for open-ended art activities at home:

-Making a collage with torn paper or found objects, like flowers and leaves from outside
-Pressing textured items into play dough, clay, or plaster
-Painting or drawing whatever the child chooses (you can suggest a subject if they need help deciding what to paint)
-Stamping with food
-Put away the play dough toys and see what they can make with just a lump of dough.
-If you’re homeschooling and planning to purchase an art curriculum, look for one that values child-led activities and creative expression.
-Set out pictures of things you’ve been learning about as inspiration.
-Make sketchbook journals for observing and drawing things around them.

Try to offer simple experiences in a variety of media (drawing, painting, collage, sculpture). And, let me say again, keep those art supplies accessible. The more you create together, the easier it becomes.

For some practical tips on drawing and painting with little ones, look here and here. And my little series on art education can be found here, here, and here.

Any tips or ideas on creating art at home? I’d love to hear them!

Corban starts Kindergarten in just a couple weeks! For the first time, I’m joining countless other parents who are browsing the school supply aisles with a list in hand, trying to pick up everything he needs without spending too much. I’ve heard parents questioning why the teacher requested they buy not only a specific brand but the most expensive brand. I’m not usually a very assertive person, but the last time I was shopping, couldn’t help myself. I found myself butting into their conversation counseling them to purchase the higher quality.

Why do teachers request the expensive art supplies? Because, in most cases, they’re actually a better value.

I thought, since I already embarrassed myself once by stepping on my soapbox, I’d write a whole post on the topic. I’ve seen firsthand the frustration (and tears) of students who had to deal with cheap art supplies. I’m going to give my take on some of the materials and brands that I’m familiar with, and give my humble opinion on which are the best purchase, based on my experience with these supplies in the art classroom.

Watercolors
Here it is absolutely necessary to buy quality. The brands that the teachers in this area request are Prang and Crayola.

Prang- Yes, they’re the most expensive brand, but I really believe that you get the most bang for your buck here. This is the only student-grade watercolor set that has a true red (not pink), and the other colors are very vibrant, too. The paint pots are deeper (there’s more there) than the cheaper brands, and the individual colors can be popped out and replaced. Teachers will often encourage parents to use the same set in following years, and some even offer to replace any colors that have run out. I used this brand in my classroom, and loved it.

Crayola- They’re second best when it comes to quality. The colors are nice, though the red is not perfect. And I don’t believe that the individual colors are replaceable. But if you can’t find or can’t afford the Prang, it’s still a nice set.

Rose Art (or other cheap brands)- Please, please don’t waste your money on these sets. The colors don’t show up very well on the paper, and they run out much sooner (I’ve actually seen a set run out with one project). Unlike the Prang, which could last for years, these might not make it through the school year.

Crayons
It’s important to get a higher-quality brand of crayons for little ones, especially toddlers who have trouble putting the pressure needed to make a mark with the cheaper ones. I only have experience with a couple brands here: Crayola and Rose Art

Crayola- These are again the higher quality product. The colors show up well, and the crayons stand up to more abuse than other brands. If you’re drawing with little ones who might try to put them in their mouth, I’d suggest getting the non-washable kind, since the washable dissolve when wet.

Rose Art- I have a set of chunky crayons in this brand, and I have to say that I am again disappointed. The tips have cracked and broken off, and the colors don’t show up as well on the paper.

Markers
Again, I have the most experience with Crayola and Rose Art. And again the Crayola simply held up better, while the Rose Art ran out of ink faster.

Colored Pencils
Crayola is again a very nice brand for school use. Cheaper brands are not as bright and the lead inside tends to break easily if they’re dropped (which happens constantly). Whether quality makes a difference depends on how often the pencils are used, and what they are used for. Cheaper colored pencils are not quite as frustrating as cheap watercolors and crayons. For older students, the PrismaColor brand is wonderful for art projects and other school projects. They need to be cared for, since the lead is soft, but they draw deep, beautiful colors with less effort.

Scissors
I used Fiskars in my classroom. I have little experience with other brands, but my teaching colleagues seemed to find this brand to be much better than the others. I bought the brand that was on sale for Corban, but we’ve used the Fiskars at home, and they’re still sharp after a couple years.

Paper
Teachers don’t request art paper, but if you’re looking to buy paper for painting at home, let me encourage you to buy a kind that’s thick enough to hold the paint. We use a lot of copy paper here, but only for markers. For paint we use thick drawing paper or children’s watercolor paper. Paper that is too thin just makes a mess.

There you have it. Now I’ll step back down from my soapbox.

Do you have any favorite art materials or brands you love? I’d love to hear about it.

For more fun back-to-school tips, head over to We Are THAT Family.

After our two little friends who stay with us during the day leave for home, we’ll sometimes have a moment of quiet. The boys will find a quiet activity to engage them, happy for a little alone time with their own toys, and I will have a brief window before I need to feed them dinner. It is in these moments that I find myself sitting down at the piano.

image by mararie

I haven’t played consistently since college, but even picking out a very slow version of Claire de Lune or a Chopin Nocturne relaxes me. The sound of the music (the good notes, at least) soothes nerves that are very raw at this time of day, and the physical activity of running my fingers up and down the keys helps release some of the tension of the day. I don’t need to think of anything except the next note on the page.

I may soon be interrupted by a sudden cry or, more often, little fingers that want to play along side me, but a moment is enough to help me breathe a little deeper and appreciate again the beauty of simple things like music.

I once had the father of a piano student ask me if his daughter (at six years old) had the talent to keep up the lessons. Though I tried to explain to him the benefits of music lessons (higher test scores, etc), I think that there’s a benefit that is harder to explain–a certain quality of life that comes with the study of and appreciation of the arts, no matter how much talent you have. And it’s never too late to learn it.

No, we don’t live near the beach (though I envy those of you who do). The lid to the sandbox was left off right before a big downpour.

And then yesterday evening I found Jackson happily playing in the water and sand.

Do you ever have those moments when your mind is quickly weighing the benefits of the fun being had against the potential mess being made? He was having so much fun, and I’m sure he was learning so much…you know, about the properties of sand and water.

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Jackson has loved music since he was very young. Music would stop his crying when he was a newborn, and as he grew he loved to dance and bounce to any music he heard. When he was a young toddler, little melodies surfaced in that sweet baby voice of his.

His speech has come slower than a lot of children his age. At age two he barely had a handful of words. As I sought advice from articles and professionals, the one word of advice that struck me the most was to sing songs and say rhymes with your child. Why not use something he already loved to help him find his voice?

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If you missed my first two posts on art education, find them here and here.

image by Martin LaBar

I’m really excited about this topic because I believe it to be the most important aspect of art education. I believe strongly in what I’ve talked about so far…things like pre-reading and fine motor skills, math and science concepts, and understanding different perspectives on history and life…all those things that we can gain from the world of art. But learning to look and see…it’s a gift that goes much deeper than book knowledge.

Our heart longs to see and hear and feel beautiful things, I believe, because of who created us. Teaching a child to appreciate aesthetic experiences gives him a gift that will enrich his life.

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This is the second post to a short series on art education. If you didn’t catch my last post, you should start here.

Henri Matisse The Music Lesson

There were many times when my son Jackson was a baby that his little eyes would light up as soon as I picked him up. He would then start pointing at and babbling about whatever pictures were then at eye level. Little ones are drawn to pictures, and images are a wonderful way for a child to learn. Looking at art can open up a child’s world, helping them learn to see beyond themselves.

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photo by John-Morgan

If you’re like me, you likely spend your days cleaning up messes, wiping noses, and giving in when your little one sweetly asks “I hold you?” In the midst of all this, you may have discovered that planning little crafts and projects make the day go a little smoother. I’d like to encourage you that these little projects do much more than pass the time. Whether you send your child to school or teach at home, there are many reasons to provide lots of art opportunities at home.

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