The Artful Parent
by ParentCo.
January 16, 2015
There are at least as many blogs dedicated to kid's crafts as there are specks of glitter strewn throughout my house. (My daughter is three, so you can imagine the carnage.) There are plenty of fantastic ones, but the one I find myself coming back to again and again is
The Artful Parent. Between projects that are geared toward kids of all ages, Janet Van't Hul interjects useful and practical information on how to inspire creativity in your family and throughout your home. And the most magical part is that it's
in simple ways you'll actually pull off.
Often, those well intentioned step A, B, and C crafts leave little room for creativity. The Artful Parent, on the other hand, simply celebrates a love of art. For many of her suggestions, you could hunker down and dedicate an entire afternoon. Others you can set up and jump in and out of for just minutes at a time for days on end. She encourages parents to offer real tools, like good quality paper, masking tape and even (mess-freaks, hold on to your hat)
sharpies. Because of her, I purchased a hot glue gun and my life hasn't been the same since.
I've been critical of my own artistic shortcomings my entire life. I'm sure that even as a toddler, I considered my smiley faces sub par. I don't want my kids to fall into that trap. Making art as natural a part of their day as brushing their teeth seems like a good start.
ParentCo.
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