We believe it’s never too early to start appreciating art! But how do we get those little pair of eyes ready for some big art adventure?

A great way to begin is just to ask “What do you see?” or “What do you notice?” You may be surprised to learn which detail is most captivating to them.

Next, ask them what the story is! If it’s a portrait, ask who the person in the picture is. If there are multiple characters, ask who they are to one another.

If the art is more abstract, start literal and then dig deeper. Ask “What colors do you see?” before asking “How does it make you feel?”

Try your hardest to use open ended questions instead of leading your little to what you believe is the “right” answer. Kids of all ages will love that their opinions are being heard. Especially if you can validate them by saying things like, “I see that too!”

 

Learning takes on a new level of excitement when kids see how things can be found off the page and in real life! Just this week, a few rounds of SHAPE SNOOP SNATCH reignited our kiddos’ passion for shape recognition. A clock, a ferris wheel, and the moon all made circles enticing again!

Playing is easy! Snoop around (on tippy toes for extra sneaky snooping!) and start to investigate your little’s room, your house, then your neighborhood for each shape. Have your kiddo whisper “Shape Snoop” when they’ve found one. This is great practice in delayed gratification and using their words before action. Then only after you have snuck up on the shape and “caught” it together, exclaim “Shape Snatch!”

Little kids will need clues, or two distinct choices to pick from, when snooping a particular shape. Bigger kids will embrace the challenge of snooping a whole area by themselves. And the tongue twister of “shape snoop” versus “shape snatch!” will entertain all of you!