It’s Not About Art: Skill-building in the studio
The other day I was going through photos of our art space over the years and it hit me how much my girls have learned from having a dedicated art space in our home.
I always say that having an art space is about so much more than just having a place to do art. But I realized that maybe I take this for granted and maybe other people don’t know what happens in an art space over time.
So I compiled some photos from when we first turned our little converted porch into an art space. The photos show what has taken place in here in the past few years and how, because of this art space, the girls have learned so much more than just art.
*Free Guide with “Invitations To Create” based on these skills at the end of the post*
My kids learned to explore materials in this art space…
they learned fine motor skills in this art space…
they learned how to focus in this art space…
they learned how to write in this art space…
they learned how to use tools and materials safely in this art space…
they learned how to be self-sufficient in this art space…
they learned about science and investigation in this art space…
they learned how to make their own toys in this art space…
they worked with friends in this art space…
they learned how to share in this art space…
they felt pure joy in this art space…
I am so thankful that we have had this art space in our lives. I want all kids to grow up with these opportunities and I’m dedicated to helping make that happen.
Free Resources
If you want to hear more on this topic head over to our podcast, Muse and the Catalyst, episode 10, where I share about all of this in a mini solo episode. I talk about how seeing the schools in Reggio Emilia inspired my passion for children’s art studios and I share thoughts on having an art space in your home. I also answer a reader’s question about what happens when we have play-dates or a party and kids head straight for the art space!
Even if you have an awesome art space, it’s still important to know how to guide your kids in the space to develop the skills that I talk about above. One way to do that is to offer “Invitations To Create” (art prompts) that encourage skill-building.
To get you started, I’ve put together a FREE guide for you with 8 ideas for “Invitations To Create,” skill-building style.
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