Play is a crucial part of development for children. Incorporating art into the games that children participate in can teach visual concepts while also promoting healthy development. Expose your child to paintings, drawings, photographs and sculpture in an entertaining way to begin teaching your child the lifelong benefits of art.
Art Memory
Art memory is an educational game that uses small images of well-known pieces of art, say Al Hurwitz and Michael Day, authors of "Children and Their Art: Methods for the Elementary School." Reproducing small images of art onto postcards or card stock can be used to play the classic childhood game of memory. Make two copies of each piece of art and lay them face down on the play area. The first player turns over two cards. If the cards match, he takes them and has another turn. If the two cards do not match, his turn is over and the next player takes his turn. The winner is the player with the most matches at the end of the game.
Art Words
This game requires children to actively notice what a piece of art depicts and come up with words to describe what they see, says Jane Feber, author of "Active Word Play: Games and Activities That Build Vocabulary." Choose several pieces of art and display them around the play area. Divide the players into teams and assign each team one piece of art. Provide them with sticky notes and pencils and explain to them that they are to come up with as many descriptive words as they can to talk about their piece of art. One word is written on each sticky note and placed on the piece of art. Give children a predetermined amount of time to come up with their words. The winning team is the one with the most words. You can change the game by requiring each team to rotate among the pieces of art within the given time and come up with as many words for each piece of art as they can.
Art Scavenger Hunt
Visiting an art museum is a fun way for children to learn about different artists and their art, says Mary Mayesky, author of "Creative Activities for Young Children." Children can be taken to the art museum and given a list of items to find while looking at the art. Include animals, objects and other common items. As each item on the list is spotted, the player crosses it off her list. The winner of the game is the player who finds all of the objects first. You can also add thought-provoking items to find. Include something that you would smell or something you would find outside to encourage children to look closely at the art around them.
References
- "Primary Arts Education: Contemporary Issues"; David Holt; 1997
- "Children and Their Art: Methods for the Elementary School"; Al Hurwitz and Michael Day; 2006
- "Active Word Play: Games and Activities That Build Vocabulary"; Jane Feber; 2008
- "Creative Activities for Young Children"; Mary Mayesky; 2008
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