Here at Museo Art Academy, we love teaching kids how to think like artists. This means allowing creativity to take over, but also knowing the basics of art history, too. One fun way you can encourage your child's artistic tendencies at home is by reading art-related books with them. We compiled a few of our favorite art books for kids. Some tell stories of young artists, and others teach about famous artists in history. We hope you enjoy!
Willow
by Denise Brennan-Nelson &Rosemarie Brennan, and illustrated by Cyd Moore
This story about how a girl named Willow inspires her strict art teacher to embrace her creativity is an adventure to read!
The Day the Crayons Quit
by Oliver Jeffers
What's little artist Duncan to do when he opens his crayon box to find all of his crayons have gone on strike?
I am an Artist
by Marta Altes
A little boy can't stop making art in places he shouldn't. See how he finally creates a piece of art that his mother can truly love (and not scrub off a wall).
Funny Machines for George the Sheep
by Geraldine Elschner
George the sheep seems to shrink to the size of a mouse when he gets wet. So his friend Leo makes a series of Leonardo da Vinci-inspired contraptions to keep George dry.
The Art Book for Children
by Amanda Renshaw & Gilda Williams Ruggi
This kid-friendly book makes 30 of the art world's most famous masters accessible and understandable.
Beautiful OOPS!
by Barney Saltzberg
This fun book teaches kids that it's okay to make mistakes; in fact, some of the best art comes from fixing a mistake. The first page shows a huge tear on the front, and a painted alligator with an open (ripped) mouth on the back.
We don't have to tell you that art education has intrinsic value. Otherwise, you wouldn't be looking at this blog. But sometimes it's fun to look at all the amazing benefits your child is getting from their arts education or COULD be getting from arts education here at Museo. Here are a few of the reasons why learning about and creating art is valuable for everyone, especially kids.
Promotes Self-Directed Learning
If you want your child to be a life-long learner, teach them about art. They'll develop the skills necessary to create and perform critical thinking on their own. Enhances Achievement in Other Subjects You may have heard of school districts cutting arts classes because the arts don't seem to be as important as other subjects. But children who study art do better in other subjects like reading, social studies, and math. They also score higher on standardized tests. In fact, the more art classes students take, the higher they score! Teaches Emotional Intelligence When children can explore and express feelings through art, they learn how to process complicated emotions. You may find that asking your child what their art is about will bring up important discussions that wouldn't have come out otherwise. Keeps Kids Busy Studies have shown that kids who study art are also more likely to watch less TV, report boredom less often, and volunteer more in the community. That sounds like a win-win to us! Encourages Understanding of Different Perspectives and Cultures To look at a piece of art is to see into another person's soul. The artist shares what's in their heart, and the viewer tries to understand it. Learning how to look at and interpret art can open a child's mind up to different life perspectives and teach about far-away cultures. Now you can go about the rest of your day feeling great about what your child is learning in art! |
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