Art Ideas For The Very Young Child...

Producing an art project will boosts your child's self-esteem which helps the child become a more confident individual.  In addition, it is a great way to spend some quality time with your child.  Listed below are some terrific links to great art/craft ideas.

• Color in a Bag  --  A few spoonfuls of colored gelatin sealed in a plastic bag -- what could be more squeezably fun? It's a great first experience of color blending.

• Drawing Dough -- A cross between paint and dough, this delightful concoction is fun to squeeze out into puffy, colorful designs.

• Dotty-for-dots Stamping -- With a giant make-it-yourself stamp pad and an array of circular printables, your little one can turn plain paper into a delirium of dots.

• Erasable Clipboard --  Create a mobile chalkboard that's just right for a long car ride.

• Glueless Collages -- Clear Con-Tact paper stands in for glue, offering all the fascination of adhesiveness -- with none of the mess.

• My First Monoprints --  In printing, mono means "one of a kind," which is a perfect description of this easy introduction to color mixing, texture, and spontaneity.

• Eyedropper Painting  -- Your child can create a masterpiece using an eyedropper.

• Ice Cube Painting --  Enjoy creating art work using ice cubes.

• Soap Bubble Prints -- Make marbleized prints by blowing bubbles with a drinking straw.

• Found-Object Collage -- This collage project is a great way to create a simple but appealing keepsake from a collection of everyday things

• Create an Outdoor Art Studio -- Use your clothesline to create a work or art.  In lieu of brushes and paper, your child uses pump bottles filled with homemade spray paints and cloth canvas.

Links to Kids Art and Writing Contests...

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Arts and Kids

All Kids Can Create

Telenaut.com: Global Show and Tell Gallery Guide

KidsZone Contests

Amazing Kids Contests

The Crafty Shops Kid Art Contest

BSG Young Authors Contest

Paws for Poetry

AAP National

Other Great Activities for Kids....

DANCE gives a child a higher level of self-esteem, confidence, and a more positive outlook on life.

GYMNASTICS is the foundation for all sports because it teaches your child to control their body.

SCUBA teaches you to set goals and progress steadily towards them with the help of your instructors.

THEATER teaches the importance of dedication, focus and practice.

BIKING is a great family activity and it is something that kids love to do.