Playful Presents: A Gift Guide for Creatives of all Ages

Looking for gifts that spark joy, inspire creativity, and transform learning? Whether you’re shopping for a curious toddler, a budding artist, a beloved teacher, or yourself, this guide is packed with thoughtful, open-ended materials that invite endless possibilities for art and play.

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5 Ways to Use Shells In Process Art and Play Based Learning

Incorporating shells into process art and play-based learning is a fantastic way to spark curiosity and creativity in children. They can practice fine motor skills, develop their sense of wonder, and connect with nature.

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Explore Pattern with Process Art and Play

Pattern-making is an interdisciplinary practice that builds critical thinking skills. It helps children make predictions about what happens next and hone their reasoning skills, both of which help in early literacy and math, and of course, are elemental and innate in art-making.

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Use Cardboard to Make Painting Easier in the Classroom

Cardboard is free, abundant, and sturdy! It never rips like easel paper, and it is actually quite absorbent. These are all the qualities that make it the perfect choice for beginning painters.

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Simple Self-Portraits

Self-portraits are such a wonderful way to record your child’s growth throughout the years. In the classroom, we try to do one self-portrait at the beginning of the year, and one at the end. Parents and caregivers love to see how their child has developed their skills and their sense of self.

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Driftwood Sculptures

Using chalk pastels on wood is instantly captivating for young children. The feel of the chalk gliding on the wood, the vibrant colors that chalk pastels create, and the 3-dimensional exploration of color and blending make these materials so compatible.

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Two MLK Art Projects

If you are looking for a way to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his vision for a just and equitable society, consider pairing these hands-on art experiences with intentional dialogue around the meaning of his words. Promote critical thinking about topics of racism, social justice, and equity at all ages and stages of development.

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Storing Children’s Art

We cannot save everything our child makes, but they are only four once, and their drawings and paintings at these young ages are a record of their growth. Saving their art inevitably means implementing a sorting and storing system. Here are three tried-and-true storage ideas that we know will work.

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