Life with kids can move at a ridiculous pace, and it’s common to feel like when you’ve finally made it through your list of chores and demands, you don’t have a minute left over to actually connect with your kids.
On top of that, even when you’re at home with your kids, you may not actually be spending time together.
One kid might be watching TV, another may be playing on their tablet, and you could be answering messages and trying to get dinner on the table.
That’s when finding a fun and easy way to bond with your kids can be especially essential, and family art projects are a great way to do that.
Whether you decide to create a quick project together during a spare evening hour, or tackle a larger project you can all work on over a few weeks, it’s a way to connect with one another in a fun and stress-free way.
Here are a just a few of the reasons creating art with your kids can be so beneficial, as well as some easy ideas to help you get started.
Why Making Things Together Helps Us Connect
Most of the time, our job as parents is to tell our kids what to do. “Put on your shoes, finish your homework, turn off the TV, eat your dinner.”
When you pull out some art supplies, that dynamic completely changes.
Instead of directing your child, you’re giving them the freedom to express themselves, while you do the same.
You may also notice these benefits of working on an art project together:
- You Get to Be a Team: When you share a big piece of paper or a single canvas, you become equals working together on a goal. You can spend time figuring out which colors to use and where things go as a team.
- Talking Comes Easily: Kids rarely like sitting down for a big, formal talk about their day. But, when their hands are busy with paint or glue, they often start talking on their own. They may share stories about school, their friends, and what is on their mind with much less reserve.
- It Teaches Kids to Handle Mistakes: Art almost never turns out exactly how you think it will. Paint spills, colors mix into gray, and lines go crooked. When you laugh it off, keep going, and celebrate your final result, you show your kid that making mistakes is totally fine.
Fun Ideas for Different Ages
While there are all kinds of family art projects you can work on with your kids, you want to make sure you choose an activity that they can actually complete.
Look for a project that will keep your child engaged, and doesn’t risk frustration by using difficult instructions or skills.
Here are some easy ideas to consider:
- For Toddlers and Preschoolers: Keep projects big and messy. Spread a huge roll of paper on the floor, put out some washable paint, and just let them go to town. You can paint big shapes or background colors while they use their hands, sponges, or big brushes to fill things in.
- For Elementary Kids: Kids at this age like having a bit of a plan. Paint-by-number sets, simple canvas kits, or painting wooden shapes can all be good choices. Kid-friendly paint-by-number kits can be a great first project, because the larger numbered sections and clear outlines make it easy for young artists to build confidence while creating something colorful. You can pick different spots on the same canvas or take turns adding details together.
- For Older Kids and Teens: Your older kid might pretend they are too cool for crafts, but they usually love changing up their own bedroom setup. Work together on something for their room, like painting an old bedside table a fun new color, or making a bold abstract painting on a canvas.
How to Keep It Stress-Free
The most important thing to remember about making family art projects with your kids is that it should be fun!
And, that may not happen if you’re too worried about the end result or the cleanup afterwards.
Keep these tips in mind to ensure everyone looks at that finished project with a smile:
- Don’t Aim For Perfection: Remember that your goal is to bond with your kids, so forget about making something that looks like it came from a store. If your child wants to paint a purple dog or put yellow spots on the grass, just go with it. It is their art too.
- Cover Everything First: Take some time to create a setup that minimizes mess as much as possible. Put a plastic cloth over the table, wear old t-shirts, and keep a damp towel nearby for messy hands.
- Share the Project Evenly: It can be tempting to take over a project if you have a vision in mind, but that defeats the purpose of family artwork. Instead, let your child take on the tasks they want, whether that’s making paint prints or gluing gems on a canvas. Then, you can help with any complex detail work your piece might require.
Keeping the Memory
One of the reasons that family artwork is so great for bonding with one another is that it creates a lasting memory of the time you spent together.
So, once the paint dries, find a spot to display it that will let everyone enjoy it, whether that’s in a main hallway, a living room, or an entryway.
When your child sees that piece you created together every day, they’ll experience the pride that comes from making something that’s enjoyed by their loved ones every day.
In fact, research shows that early creative activities play a powerful role in building a child’s confidence and a positive attitude toward art as they grow.
To help preserve your own memories, mark your artwork with the date, and a quick note about the fun you had creating the project.
Years from now, it will be something you can look at to remind yourself of your child’s younger years, and the way you bonded with one another.
One of the beautiful things about family art projects is they’re something that you can enjoy with your kids from their earliest years until their adulthood.
And, those moments spent with them are something that will create memories that can last a lifetime.
Whether your project ends up being a gorgeous work of art, or a fun and chaotic canvas of blended paint and wavy pictures, the most important part is sitting together, chatting, getting a little messy, and having fun.