Looking for fun and educational activities for your preschooler?  Check out Suffolk Public Library Preschool Fridays which offer regular STEAM-based activities at Morgan Memorial Library and North Suffolk Library.  Themes rotate between Early Engineers, Little Scientists, Tinker Tots and Pint-Sized Picassos, focusing on aspects of science, technology, engineering, art and math activities.  It is a wonderful time of exploring! 

Today I would like to talk about Pint-Sized Picassos and how you can replicate one of our activities at home.  We typically offer five to six process art activities for you and your child to choose to do at our Preschool Fridays. Process art emphasizes the “process” of making the art, not so much the end product.  Process art is all about the experience the child has while they’re creating.  Let them explore.  How does a brush move the paint on their paper?  What happens when you dip a recycle item in a little or a lot of paint and press it onto paper? How do they want to arrange different small shapes of construction paper and glue them to create a design?  Many of the activities are ones you can try at home using some basic art supplies. 

RECYCLE PRINTING

Would you like to try an activity at home today?  One of my favorites is Recycle Printing.  First gather your materials: clean and safe recycle items (let child help gather), tempera paint, paper such as construction paper and a plate to put the paint on.



Set up on a table or area that will be easy to clean up, maybe cover with a plastic table cloth or newspaper.  Talk with your child about recycling-what is it, why is it important to do.  Go visit your recycle bin or special recycle place.  Choose items such as toilet paper rolls, plastic bottles, and tin cans.  Take them back to your work area.  Let your child choose a piece of paper. Take time to help them write their name on their paper.  Be sure to use an upper case letter to begin their name and then lower case letters for the rest.  Put a small amount of paint on a plate or in a cake pan.  Explain to your child to dip an item in the paint and press it on the paper where ever they want.



Talk about what shape it created and what color paint they are using.



Encourage them to continue until they are happy with their art.  Would they like to make another one to give to a friend or grandma??

Children learn about their world by exploring and playing. Take time today to have some exploring time with your child.  I hope you have fun together at home and at the library!


This DIY session was brought to you by Frances Jornov, Library Services Coordinator.