The Single Best Way to Get your Preschooler to Create Visual Art: The Easel Starter

This entry is the first in a series I will be doing called Easel Starters. In each case, I will provide a visual of the easel starter and simple instructions for you to use to introduce it to your preschooler.

What are Easel Starters?

An easel starter is a simple invitation to create art that you set up while the child is away (either out of the house, napping or doing quiet time in another room). It is important that your child not see you setting up the easel starter since its magic lies in the discovery that the child makes both in terms of finding the materials sitting out and also in terms of learning about how those materials can create a piece of art.

Why Easel Starters?

1. They are easy for you to set up and you can use any old thing you have around the house. If you have cue tips, food colouring and water then - voila! - that can be the day's easel starter!
2. They empower the child to create independently and instill a sense of creative pride.
3. They incite curiosity and light a fire under the creative spirit.
4. They advance a child's fine motor skills.
5. They give mama a bit of a break dammit!
   

How to Introduce Today's Easel Starter: Orange and Yellow Study with Feathers.

1. Set out two dishes of watercolour and a piece of watercolour paper. I have used orange and yellow for a study in warm colours.
2. Choose a tool with which your child will paint. I have chosen feathers in the corresponding colours.
   
3. Add orange and yellow pencil crayons for your child to add details to the piece. (As an alternative, add only a red pencil crayon to provide another warm colour for study).
4. Let your child find the easel starter on his own by making sure it is located in a comfortable space where you expect him to find it and settle in to work at it. Once, he has found it - encourage him to create but don't engage in the process of creation yourself. This is intended to be an independent activity. If your child decides not to engage - that is fine too but, in my experience, this is a very rare phenomenon.
   
5. Hang the masterpiece on your fridge with pride!