Susan Schwake - Art Lab for Little Kids: 52 Playful Projects for Preschoolers

It can be daunting to set up a workspace for creating art, but these lists and tips will make it much easier whether you are working at home or in the classroom. For the little kids, its most important to find a table and chair that fits their size. Wobbling at a table that is too tall or sitting on their knees makes for a tough beginning. Start with a good fit, relax, and the rest will be easy! The Master Materials List A creative place for making art is best fashioned in a comfortable environmenta place free from worry about making a mess. With littler children, the mess concern escalates, and the worry can outweigh the desire to even start creating! If having a special place to make art is not available, you can collect a box of materials, which includes table and floor coverings, and store it in a bin with other toys to be ready to go. This will help eliminate concern and focus the efforts on creativity.

The following list, from simple furnishings to basic materials, will help you get started building your art space or art box. Collecting these supplies over time is easiest and most cost effective, however, you may be surprised how many of these items you already have. When purchasing materials, select student or primary grade. Keep supplies in labeled boxes on shelves for easy storage. Have small containers handy to dispense smaller portions of materials for little hands. Too many choices or too much stuff in the work area can confuse and frustrate smaller children.

Most importantly, remember that you dont need all, or even most, of these items to get started! The items are listed loosely by priority. 1. Natural light and/or good overhead lightingtask lighting is appropriate in smaller group situations, such as a clip-on lamp attached to a desk or table for one child. 2. A sturdy table with chairs at the appropriate height for the studentthe table should come to about the students waist when standing, and their feet should be on the floor when seated. If the child is seated on a taller chair at a taller table, provide a sturdy footrest.

Many people (of all ages) prefer to stand to make art, just make sure the table is at waist level when standing. 3. A plastic cover is a great way to protect the surface of a multi-use table. Secure the plastic with strong tape if it slips around. Also use a plastic cloth under the table to guard the floor against spills. 4.

A water source should be nearby. A sink in the room is best, or provide buckets of water with some empty buckets for dumping the dirty water. A plastic tarp or tablecloth under the buckets helps protect the floor. Collect small and large plastic containers for holding water; round and rectangular are both very useful. Make sure the containers are short walled as little hands have a hard time reaching into tall jars.