TeachKidsArt

a resource for teachers and parents

“Collage Who You Are” Self-Portrait

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For centuries, artists have created self-portraits to give others a glimpse into who they are. Since our likes and dislikes, personalities, hobbies, and skills all contribute to making us interesting and unique, why not include those in a self-portrait, too? And what could be a more fun approach to this than a mixed media collage??! For this project we used a bit of … [Read more...]

Paper Chain of Kindness

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One of the most important things we can teach our kids is kindness. Kindness can be shown by small, spontaneous gestures that are thoughtful, helpful, and caring - done without expectation of anything in return. Acts of kindness are simple to do, yet it's easy to miss the opportunities to show kindness that are all around us, if we're not looking for them. Kids … [Read more...]

What Your Handwriting Can Tell You About Yourself and Others

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January 23rd is National Handwriting Day! Did you know your handwriting can show evidence of more than 5,000 different personality traits, and even be used to detect lies and possible health issues?    Graphology (or handwriting analysis) can help you learn more about yourself and others. Check out the fun infographic below from National Pen.   Would you like your … [Read more...]

Mix ‘n Match Faces

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Each month brings a new challenge with the Children’s Museum of the Arts (CMA) CIVIC KIDS campaign! Their theme for November is “Equity”…. perfect for election month, don’t you think?! equity noun 1 the equity of society: fairness, justness, impartiality, egalitarianism; objectivity, balance, open-mindedness." The challenge is open to kids everywhere… you don’t need to … [Read more...]

Easy Sugar Skull Kirigami for Day of the Dead

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Day of the Dead (or Dia De Los Muertos) is a festive two day celebration (November 1st & 2nd) honoring the lives of loved ones who have died. This colorful holiday from the Hispanic cultures of Mexico, Spain, and South America, is gaining wide popularity across the U.S. One of the most recognizable symbols of Day of the Dead is the brightly colored sugar skull. To add a new … [Read more...]

Make an Upcycled Planter

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If you’d like to teach your students (or your kids) about important issues while making fun art and craft projects, then CIVICKIDS might be just what you’re looking for! "CIVICKIDS: Make Art. Make a Difference." is an initiative from the Children’s Museum of the Arts (CMA) in New York City. From September 2018-August 2019, CMA is activating a year-long campaign … [Read more...]

The Healthy Benefits of Coloring for Kids

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Today’s world can be a stressful place for kids! The pressures kids experience come from a variety of places…. school, friends, family, health problems (their own or a loved one’s), social media, and on and on. The amount of stress each child can tolerate will vary. But eventually the effects of stress can begin to show, often with stomach aches or headaches, sleeping or … [Read more...]

Book Review: Drawing Cartoons Letter By Letter by Christopher Hart

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Drawing Cartoons Letter by Letter is the latest in a series of learn-to-draw books by Christopher Hart. I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review, so here it is! The concept of using a letter or number as the framework for beginning a drawing is not new. In fact, I already had a similarly themed book in my collection. But several things set this book … [Read more...]

A Heart for Moms…. or Anyone!

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Hearts, flowers, and a handmade touch are things that come to mind when I think of a gift for Mother’s Day. So why not combine all three to show some love to a mom.... your own or another special mom in your life?    My friend Hazel McNab of 366hearts.com is famous for her hearts. She’s painted a heart a day for over five years now…. you can read about how she inspired … [Read more...]