GETTING STARTED | AGES 5 - 6
Updated: Nov 10, 2021
EARLY STAGE 1| KINDERGARTEN | AGES 5 - 6
I love teaching art to children. My philosophy is quite simple: To engage, inspire and teach art with age-appropriate techniques and subjects. I’ve been teaching art to children for over 20 years and still enjoy every new piece of artwork that I see children create. I still remember what I was attracted to as an artistic child : colourful illustrations and art supplies (especially textas). I keep these things in mind when I’m formulating lessons for my students. Over the years of teaching art to children, I have tried many techniques and materials. As a result I have discovered certain lessons, materials and techniques to be more effective when teaching art to children. Sometimes through trial and error I have worked out that what might work really well with one child may not be as successful with another child. The key to getting started is really to just give it a go, be flexible and well organised.
When planning your art lessons you will need to think about what you're trying to achieve. Is your child a beginner, intermediate or maybe advanced. This makes a big difference in what activity you choose.
At this early stage in a child's development children are capable of :
Making simple pictures and other kinds of artworks about things and experiences.
They can do drawings, paintings, sculptures, photographs, digital artworks, videos etc about things of interest to them and their own experiences.
They can start learning how to use a a variety of media, techniques and tools to create different effects.
Mediums that you can use during early stage 1 of the creative arts: pencils, crayons, fibre tip pens, watercolours, acrylic paints, chalk pastels
Applications: paint brushes, sponges, sticks, washes, fingers
Collage : cutting, pasting, tearing and layering of images & patterns
Use a variety of media to generate ideas for art making for example: books, film, video, nature
Each of these activities below will work for every stage of development your child is at. However, they do need to be adapted to the level that your child is at.
IDEAS FOR DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES
FREE PAINTING
Another thing I like to do is to encourage free painting.
what I also like to do is put on some music and get them to draw to the music this is a great way to help kids not feel they have to get things perfect it's also a lot of fun another thing you can do is when you're reading this story to your children get them to draw what they hear it so you don't show them the pictures in the book you get them to use their imagination and draw what they're feeling what they are hearing
HOW TO DRAW BOOKS
Use how to draw books these are great if you're wanting realistic drawings
COPY PICTURES
you can also get them to copy pictures this is something I would suggest older children and you get them to add their own colours an example of this is the online our class that I do which is drawing Henry Matisse is the goldfish and they get to add their own patterns and colours it's really important kids get to express themselves with their own ideas and not just copy exactly what they're saying.
There are different methods in teaching parts Arts one is for realism and the other is about them expressing their creativity it's good to get the basics withdrawing but you do need the other aspect which is their imagination and their own creativity because every child is different we have all been created differently and no one's arts would be the sign encouraging. Encouraging kids creativity build confidence identity sometimes self-esteem. Knowing they don't have to pay like anybody else.
HEADING OUTDOORS
It's great to take the kids outside and get them to draw their surroundings I often do this using oil pastels as they are easy to transport and you don't then not messy because you don't need any other things to setup.
DRAWING IN SHAPES
I find one of the best ways to teach drawing is by getting the kids to draw in shapes by that I mean really basic shapes such as circles squares, triangles, rectangles. I tell the kids they can't draw anything but shapes. This is a great way of teaching kids the basics. It helps with proportion and learning where to place things.
This is the equipment I have found to be a great starter kit when starting your art classes. Oil pastels mainly versatile and you can do a lot of different artwork using these. They are also good on the budget and not hard to setup minimal work involved to set up. Sharp's are all so a staple in my art keeps kids as I find them they have strong pigmentation bracket colour in the range. They are also permanents, so you need to make sure when using them you have something underneath your artwork to protect your workstation. A Watercolour palette is also essential. It's up to you how many colours you would like to use. However I suggest as you're starting out just get a pack of palettes of 12 to 24 colours. It's also good have a good quality paintbrush. I find number 10 to be a good size. If your kids are younger I wouldn't spend too much money on your paintbrush as Young children have a tendency to push down hard on paintbrush and if you had an expensive one it would get ruined very quickly. If your children are older it's best to get them started on good quality paintbrushes as it will help them achieve better results with their artwork. I also suggested A3 sketchbook there are varying
oil pastels (24pkt)
rubber
scissors
glue stick
lead pencil
Sharpies
watercolour pallet
paintbrushes
A3 Sketchbook
acrylic paints (yellow, blue, red, white paint)
2. Have all your materials ready to go before starting - Do Video
At this early stage in a child's development children are capable of :
Making simple pictures and other kinds of artworks about things and experiences.
They can do drawings, paintings, sculptures, photographs, digital artworks, videos etc about things of interest to them and their own experiences.
They can start learning how to use a a variety of media, techniques and tools to create different effects.
Mediums that you can use during early stage 1 of the creative arts: pencils, crayons, fibre tip pens, watercolours, acrylic paints, chalk pastels
Applications: paint brushes, sponges, sticks, washes, fingers
Collage : cutting, pasting, tearing and layering of images & patterns
Use a variety of media to generate ideas for art making for example: books, film, video, nature
Each of these activities below will work for every stage of development your child is at. However, they do need to be adapted to the level that your child is at.
IDEAS FOR DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES
4. FREE PAINTING
Another thing I like to do is to encourage free painting.
what I also like to do is put on some music and get them to draw to the music this is a great way to help kids not feel they have to get things perfect it's also a lot of fun another thing you can do is when you're reading this story to your children get them to draw what they hear it so you don't show them the pictures in the book you get them to use their imagination and draw what they're feeling what they are hearing
4. HOW TO DRAW BOOKS
use how to draw books these are great if you're wanting realistic drawings
5. COPY PICTURES
you can also get them to copy pictures this is something I would suggest older children and you get them to add their own colours an example of this is the online our class that I do which is drawing Henry Matisse is the goldfish and they get to add their own patterns and colours it's really important kids get to express themselves with their own ideas and not just copy exactly what they're saying.
There are different methods in teaching parts Arts one is for realism and the other is about them expressing their creativity it's good to get the basics withdrawing but you do need the other aspect which is their imagination and their own creativity because every child is different we have all been created differently and no one's arts would be the sign encouraging. Encouraging kids creativity build confidence identity sometimes self-esteem. Knowing they don't have to pay like anybody else.
6.HEADING OUTDOORS
It's great to take the kids outside and get them to draw their surroundings I often do this using oil pastels as they are easy to transport and you don't then not messy because you don't need any other things to setup.
7. DRAWING IN SHAPES
I find one of the best ways to teach drawing is by getting the kids to draw in shapes by that I mean really basic shapes such as circles squares, triangles, rectangles. I tell the kids they can't draw anything but shapes. This is a great way of teaching kids the basics. It helps with proportion and learning where to place things.
