Whether it’s the desire to send messages or communicate or just an reason to make a mess, all kids certainly love art, whether it’s painting, sketching or making things. And sometimes, adults can even work out what the drawings or paintings are supposed to be, too, which always make it easier to praise.

Children typically start to express themselves artistically with their eating habits. Distributing pureed baby food around the kitchen can keep them occupied forever or until another opportunity diverts their attention. But they do seem to work out quickly that they can make shapes, objects and patterns with their bare hands, and for people of their age, that’s the start of art.

Before risking getting out the paints, most parents will gently try their kids with materials that won’t risk their no-claims bonus on the home insurance. So to begin with, it’s normally some kind of wax crayon. The instant children observe the first line they have created, they’re hooked. They will usually discover the thick ones easier to use at first, but in a very short time many kids will have moved up to narrower crayons, in preparation for some more detailed and creative drawing.

After learning to use wax and having understood how they can use a piece of paper, paints can begin to be introduced under close supervision. Leave them on their own for even a minute with a paintbrush and you’ll almost certainly come back to find a little home decoration has taken place in your absence, so it can’t be overstressed how vital it is to introduce them to painting in a safe environment, like school or nursery perhaps. If this is not possible, try using somewhere wipe-clean or safer like the garden or garage, slowly moving to more delicate rooms as they start to learn the destructive power they hold in their tiny little hands.

Art shops sell lots of paint sets designed just for kids, and we can probably all think back to the ones we had ourselves. Water-based paints are really the best choice for many reasons, usually the cost and the ease of cleaning up brushes and worksurfaces. Stay away from spray cans at all costs though. A typical kids’ painting set will come in a nice tin with the different coloured paint blocks held in a plastic mould. A place to keep brushes means the whole thing can be kept together and stay together. All you’ll need then is a pot of water, a sheet of paper and they’re ready to get started with all their wonderful ideas to explore.

Soon they’ll feel they can take their two-dimensional creations no further and the need to model will take over. This is the beginning of another phase of decision-making for grown-ups. Clay is the best place to start, and it’s such fun to see all the various bright colours merge into a grey-brown sludge after just an hour or two of mixing, slicing, rolling and cutting. Next, specialist clays and real modelling clay can be tried. Although they are probably not ideal with very young children, the results can be kept forever if baked and can be very rewarding for young kids.

So start shopping and get some basic art supplies and introduce your kids to the world of art as soon as possible. There’s no need for technology like computers, a simple pot of paint and some paper is all you need.

Author Bio: Tracey Morgan created this article for Voodoo E-Commerce on behalf of Pullingers, providers of children’s art materials.

Category: Arts and Crafts
Keywords: childrens art materials