Aspiring & Abstract Art: 5-12 Year Olds

Art is inspiring for all ages. Encourage 5-12 year olds to explore their creativity independently and invest in materials that will help them take their art to the next level. Be willing to learn new art techniques with them or respect if they prefer to do this as an activity by themselves.

Materials: pencils and a sharpener for shading, cotton canvas for painting, charcoal or oil pastels.

Activity ideas: choose a piece of artwork that you specifically love and offer to purchase it to teach them the value of their work, invest in an art class or how-to book to learn specific techniques, watch videos online and try to draw along with them.

Pro-tips: They may start work and not finish it, try not to put any extra pressure on their creative process even if you've invested in specific supplies. Remember to stay patient and understanding as they start to explore their identity through art, look for ways to encourage and remind them that you value their unique artwork.