Engaging children in art and craft activities is not only a fun way to spend their time but also a great way to promote creativity, imagination, fine, gross motor skills – likely to be far more relevant in the coming future. So whether you’re a teacher or a parent, incorporating art and craft into children’s routines can have numerous benefits for their overall development. In this blog post, we will explore a variety of art and craft ideas that are perfect for school children. These activities can be easily implemented in the classroom or at home, and they are sure to spark joy and unleash the artistic potential within every child – and hopefully keep children away from screens, which are known to damage health and wire their brains in an inapt way.
Paper Collage: Paper collages are a versatile and accessible activity that encourages creativity and storytelling. Provide children with colorful construction paper, magazines, old news papers to cut/shape, scissors, glue, and let their imagination run wild. They can cut out shapes, pictures, and patterns from the magazines and arrange them on a larger piece of paper to create unique collages. Some of our Japanese parents use a variant of this called Origami, and often they volunteer to take an occasional session in our campuses – which are always a delight! Such activities promote fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and visual storytelling.
Nature-inspired Art: Take advantage of the beauty of nature by encouraging children to create art using natural materials. Take them on a nature walk to collect leaves, flowers, twigs, and pebbles. Our green school campuses enable a lot of this – and most children love green environments. Once back in the classroom or at home, they can use these materials to create stunning artwork. They can make leaf rubbings, create flower petal collages, or use twigs to build miniature sculptures. This activity fosters an appreciation for the natural world and encourages resourcefulness. Dear parent – try to take children out in parks or walk/run/explore green settings. ask open ended questions on the greens to your children – and watch them come up with amazing insights/explanations, which can be great conversation starters.
Clay Modeling: Working with clay provides children with a tactile and sensory experience while enhancing their fine motor skills. Give them clay or playdough and let them explore their creativity by shaping and molding it into various forms. They can create animals, objects, or even imaginary creatures. This activity allows children to express themselves artistically in three dimensions and boosts their problem-solving abilities. At home give the children some chapati or bread dough to make a few things – say animal shaped chapati’s and work hand in hand with your child to create some fun chapati’s, breads or cakes – a lot of fun & great learning – besides core life skills.
DIY Greeting Cards: Handmade greeting cards are a thoughtful and personalized way for children to express their emotions and show appreciation to others. Encourage them to create cards for birthdays, holidays, or special occasions. Provide them with colored paper, markers, glitter, and other decorative materials. They can draw, write messages, and decorate the cards as they wish. This activity nurtures communication skills, empathy, social engagement and gratitude.
Recycled Crafts: Teach children about the importance of recycling and repurposing materials by engaging them in recycled craft projects. Encourage them to collect recyclable items like cardboard tubes, bottle caps, and egg cartons. They can transform these materials into imaginative creations such as robots, animals, or vehicles. This activity instills a sense of environmental responsibility and encourages creative problem-solving.
CONCLUSION:
Art and craft activities provide children with a wealth of benefits, ranging from enhancing fine motor skills to fostering creativity and imagination. By incorporating these activities into their daily routines, parents and teachers can play a crucial role in nurturing children’s artistic abilities and overall development. Whether it’s paper collages, nature-inspired art, clay modeling, DIY greeting cards, or recycled crafts, these ideas are sure to engage children and leave a lasting impact on their creative journey. So, let’s encourage our young artists to unleash their imagination and create beautiful works of art – and help them prepare for a new future !.
@ THE SIXTH ELEMENT SCHOOL WE BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF CATALYSING & “THE SIXTH ELEMENT” FOR EVERY CHILD. OUR CURRICULAM IS BENCHMARKED WITH THE BEST INTERNATIONALLY, WHILE DRAWING FROM OUR CORE ANCIENT BEST PRACTICES. THANKS TO ITS 18 YEARS EXPERIENCE AND ITS CORE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES DRAWN FROM PIAGET, VYGOSTKY AND BRUNER – WHICH IS INCIDENTALLY THE RESOURCE POOL – FOR THE FOUNDATIONAL YEARS SCHOOL CURRICULUM OF THE UPGRADED NEW EDUCATION (NEP) UNDER ROLL OUT IN INDIA NOW. WE ARE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATION TO ENABLE OUR CHILDREN TO EVOLVE GLOBALLY AS WELL AS IN INDIA
www.sixthelment.edu.in
the Sixth Element School
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SOUTH CITY 1. TATA PRIMANTI (sector 72)
85272-74695 or 97736-32626
since 2004(18+years)
limited enrolment available in pre-NURSERY, NURSERY, KG & DAYCARE, grade 1 in 2023
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