Hi everyone! I hope your summer is going well.
Time is going fast and before you know it, you’ll be thinking about your kids returning back to school. Psst, don’t tell them I said that. They want to enjoy every bit of their summer while they can. Parents, you should, too. 😊
When I was planning this month’s blog, I had many other things in mind, but something occur to me over the 4th of July.
When our grands are here, I almost always end up getting my art supplies out. That’s quite alright with me because I love it. We make cards for those we love, but most of the time we just “art,” as I like to call it.
The oldest one is well settled into “art.” The younger one has to be shown how to use paint, glue, tape, scissors, etc.
I remember when our sons started school, the teachers were impressed they both knew how to handle cutting and how to respectfully treat their art supplies. That’s because we spent hours and hours making things for holidays, or just for the fun of it, almost everyday.
Kids Need Art For So Many Reasons.
Art Improves:
Fine motor skills
Problem solving
Cognitive development
Social-Emotional and mastering self-esteem and creativity, and so much more.
Ways To Teach How To Use Simple Art Supplies
We are going to explore just a few tips today on how to use common art supplies you have around your home. These tips may sound simple to us, but they are not for little hands.
Glue and Paint in Bottles
We’ve all heard the expression, “Just a Dot, Not a lot.” Sounds good, but do children really know how to do that?
Let them explore with glue or paint in bottles. Have them squeeze a small amount on a piece of paper. The first few times, they will add large blobs and that’s okay. How will they ever know how much control to use when doing this if they haven’t experimented, right?
Yes, sometimes it’s okay to add large amounts, but more often than not, they won’t need so much. Learning this way before school when teachers are giving them instructions, will make them ahead in the game. It also teaches them not to waste valuable art supplies.
Scissors
Once you know which hand your child will be more comfortable cutting with, you can start with instructions by doing this. (Note: Just because they write with their left or right hand, doesn’t mean they will choose that hand. (Example: I’m left handed, but cut with my right. I know, different, right?)
Holding a pair of scissors. This will all depend on the size of the scissors they use. The example I’m using here is for the style of scissors pictured below. Vary this technique on the style and what’s comfortable for your child.
In this example, remember the pinky finger is the smallest. It’s too young to cut, so they have to stay back out of the scissors.
Ring finger, middle and pointer finger gets to go together in the largest section of the scissors.
In the smaller circle, the thumb gets to point up and guides to help the scissors move.
Then, go to town snipping. Snip, snip, snip. (Keeping the other hand holding the paper and clear out of the way. No need getting those guys involved, right? Ouch!
Don’t expect your child to become proficient in this for a long time. Let them get used to the feel and motion of how it all works. Once they get this skill down, then you can move on to cutting straight lines, moving on to curves, etc.
Tape
Such a simple thing for us to use, but little hands have to be taught.
Most household adhesive tapes have small metal teeth on them to cut the tape off. Show your child where those teeth are and what it does. Remind them this part is sharp so be careful getting their fingers too close.
Other tapes come in rolls which are easy to pinch and tear. (Another great “fine motor skill” for them to learn.)
If using household adhesive tape, show them how to keep the tape flat between their pointer finger and thumb and gently pull once they get to the teeth to break off the amount they need. Again, these first few times, they will use a lot, but that’s okay. They’ll get the hang of it over time. Your kids will love taping things, and I mean everything.
Paint and Paint Brushes
Not everyone has an abundance of paint brushes around the house. Check to see if your dollar store carries them. They don’t have to be fancy, they just need to work. If you want to use Q-Tips or cotton balls to paint with or apply glue, that’s great, too. I always keep a lot on hand to make clean up easier.
Paint
Again, paint does not have to be expensive to work. This is a great time for your child to experiment with mixing the primary colors. Example: Red and blue make purple. Blue and yellow make green, red and yellow make orange, and so forth.
Bottom line, art is fun but also teaches them so many great things. Don’t forget to have them tell you about their projects to further their language skills, too. 😊
Teachers reading these suggestions, please feel free to add more tips for what students need to learn about using art supplies before starting school. Thank you!
Now, On To Other News at Books by Rose.
Goodreads Challenge 2023
I’m up to 26 books for the year in Goodreads. I knew the summer months would slow down with all our outside activities. Here’s my latest updates with two great books I’ve enjoyed this past month.
Don’t let the size of this 528 page book, “Big Tree,” by Brian Selznick scare you. Many illustrations are sprinkled throughout this book with short paragraphs, as well.
This story would be a wonderful read aloud for parents and classrooms adding great discussions for further learning.
“Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most,”
by Adam Alter is a book you’ll want to take your time to read.
Readers will find many stories, situations and examples on how to “breakthrough” tough spots in life, jobs, creativity, and so much more.
I was impressed with this book from the beginning to end. Alter’s writing style is easy to understand.
The amount of research he did to write this book is also followed up at the end for further reading.
I highly recommend everyone to check out this book for those times you feel, “stuck.”
One More Thing…
Want to be a Beta Reader for my next book? It’s ready! Even though this book will not be released until the fall, I’d still like to have it finished and ready to go. If all goes well with my book going into print, I may have some other news to announce. Fingers crossed. 😊
How’s Your Summer Going?
Making any new art projects? We’d love to see those!
How about book suggestions you’d like to share?
Any new writing projects you are working on you want to tell us about?
Enjoy your July!
As always,
Happy Reading!
Rosie
In case you missed last months blog post ► Looking to Make the Most of Your Summer?
Great tips, Rosie! I never really thought about all the learning that goes into using tape, glue, scissors, because I was so used to just doing crafts and art with my kids as early as I can remember. So my kids were probably like yours in knowing how to cut and glue already.
Wow, a new book already? That’s awesome! If you need me to be a beta reader, let me know! I’ll be happy to help!
I’ve been trying to find time to write my next book. I do have other stories written, but there are two stories on my mind I want to get written before I publish more books. They are important subjects but I haven’t had time to get them written yet. The toys already told me the stories. I just have to write them down!
Thank you, Jessica! Yes, it’s the little things we forget. We get better and better as we do things everyday, right? Even if it’s just for 5 minutes. 🙂
Speaking of time, that’s what I did, I just put a few minutes in here and there and before I knew it, I had a new book! I appreciate you looking it over, when you have time.
I cannot wait to hear what your stories are about. Send them my way if you need anything. These books speak to us in time when it’s the most important. I believe that.
Art-challenged here, so I appreciate the tips. No artly projects this summer…unless designing a Southern pocket garden and sprinkling in fairy houses count as art -:D.
Yes, your creative fairy houses are art, for sure! Can’t wait to see them.
Enjoy the rest of your summer, Cat! 🙂
Great tips Rosie! Will have to put the book you mentioned on getting “unstuck” on my reading list. The last two books I’ve read is “Hello Beautiful” loosely based on Little Women – which I enjoyed – and just started reading The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese which so far is an interesting read. Always happy to be a beta reader, so count me in. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Thanks, Julie. These rules are so simple for us, but felt the need to put it out there for those who may need them with their little ones.
The “unstuck” book is one your son mentioned in Goodreads. I really like the author and I understand his writing as he explains by splitting everything up with stories and examples. Let me know what you think once you read it.
I’ll check out the books you are reading. Those sound great.
Thank you for being a Beta Reader for my next book. Once I can get all the PDFs finished to send, I’ll let you know.
Have a great rest of your summer, too! 🙂
Hi Rosie, although it’s winter here, we are in two weeks school holiday time. These tips are on point even though we are in the middle of our school year. It’s always wise to remember to teach our kids how to use art supplies and not assume they can use glue, scissors etc. Our schools tend to use glue sticks, which makes things much easier and definitely less messy.
Hi Sandra! thank you so much for your input on this subject. With you being a former teacher, I appreciate your suggestions.
We use glue sticks here, as well. Love those and yes, less messy. Lately here at home, we have been working on larger projects so glue was one I thought I would mention.
Have a happy school year! I hope you get in a lot of author visits for your wonderful books. 🙂