My kid wishes to learn painting. Where do I start?

We now know that our children are always learning. If you are alive you are learning. It is what we all do best if given two things.

1- Encouragement

2- Praise

Introducing painting lessons to children can be a great experience, and can encourage a child to pick-up painting who would never have the opportunity.

Here’s my best tips to help with introduce painting, and how to prepare a work space for painting.

Wear clothes that can get messy

Wear only clothing that can get paint on them.

You can cover-up with a smock, or use old shirts.

Smocks are similar to a cooking apron.

Send home reminders, so parents can have their children wear appropriate clothes for paint day.

Preparations for painting

Prepare your work space where it’s safe to make spills.

Paint near running water stations. Being close to a bathroom or kitchen will be easier for clean-ups.

Drop cloths help with spilled stains. Remember some paints may not come out as easy as other paints.

Be prepared to explain where children can only paint.

Express to children how you have prepared a work space for the painting activity.

Prepare work space on a sturdy flat surface children can easily work around.

Have available clean-up stations for paint brush washing and spills.

All working supplies should be close to help children from leaving the painting work space, such as napkins, rags and washing stations.

Safe paints for kids

Only use child grade non-toxic safe paints.

Never use adult grade paints with young children.

Adult grade paints may have advance instructions young children will not be able to follow.

Some adult grade paints may have chemicals that are not safe for small children.

Always paint in a well ventilated space with windows or doors.

Allow children to explore painting

Provide projects that are more exploring with fun experimenting.

Young children need plenty of time to learn how paint works and what its possibilities are.

Do not expect young children to start painting realistic pictures or be able to copy paintings.

Your projects should be fun and open to their ideas and experiments.

Enroll kids in online classes of art:  

Now a days with the advancement of technology, one can get any information on internet. There are number of online apps and websites from where your kids can learn art, craft or any other such activities. 

The best paints I recommend for introducing painting is; watercolor, child grade acrylic and Dry Gouache paints.

Painting Surfaces

Great surfaces to paint are; paper, cardboard, recycled cardboard, watercolor paper, canvas, rocks and wood surfaces.

Painting  tools for children

Paint brushes are the most common way to paint, but should not be the only way!

You can use many fun objects like; sticks, stamps, feathers, rollers, potato stamps, bubble wrap, droppers, sponges, squeeze bottles, string, marbles and anything that can absorb paint.

Creative time

Allow time for each child to explore while painting. Be open minded and encouraging of all artworks presented.

Clean-up

Demonstrate how to clean-up all tools and the art space after painting projects to older children capable of helping.

Show  & Display Artworks

Display artworks where every child can enjoy their accomplishments or allow children to take artworks home to share with their families.

Creating a painting encourages thought into the choice of color, patterns and designs. Your child develops his brain by capturing objects in a painted representation and exploring complex techniques as he develops his skills. This gives him a continued challenge as he tries different painting activities. As your child learns to paint and improves her technique, she gains greater confidence in her developed skills. Painting gives your child a way to express himself emotionally. If he feels stressed about a situation, his painting might hint at those feelings.