When we were children, our worlds were full of imagination. Whether we were constructing “castles” outside or making art in school, we got our fair share of creativity and fun. We didn’t have all the distractions that are now present. The internet, DVDs, video games and endless TV shows have been known to mute children’s thoughts and expressions. We also did not have to fight the budget cuts that are removing art from more schools every year. As we continue to embark on our mission to keep art alive in the classrooms, you can help keep art alive at home.

As alternative activities, we suggest creating a noncompetitive environment where your children can express themselves with art projects. These projects require focus and help children develop concentration skills. It’s an excellent solution to the distractions mentioned above. Not to mention the fact that it allows them to be creative, imaginative, and inventive. After all, art is the key to opening up a child’s mind. So here are some recommendations for an art-friendly home:

Create a story with art. Tell Dora the Explorer to take a hike and put Harry Potter back on the shelf. Instead, find a book of paintings to show your child before bed. Create a narrative about a work of art that explains the colors, shapes, and feelings that the work portrays. Encourage your child to think about those things when they create their own art.

Collaborate on an art project with your child. Not only will the bonding experience add quality time to your day, but it will also show your child grown ups are still learning and see the world from their own unique perspective.

Set up a specific area of the house that can be used as an art corner or studio, even if it is one end of the kitchen table. This way, the child knows that they have a special place to go where it is okay to be creative with markers, paint, clay, and more. Not to mention, it should save you from discovering a mural in your hallway.

Art is more than just markers and crayons. Provide your child with “real” art supplies like oils, pastels, and watercolors. They’ll make a wonderful addition to your collection of art supplies and broaden their artistic horizons.

Set-up a still-life scene with objects from your child’s day-to-day life and encourage them to recreate it on canvas or construction paper. Begin in pencil, discuss shapes as you go and layer other media like paint or glitter to add color and texture. Example?

Fight the urge to say very nice. When your child finishes a piece of artwork, pick out something very specific you like about the creation. Comment on a color choice, use of perspective, a unique subject or some other defining characteristics to encourage conversation. as“”
Look for art in the world and share what you find appealing with your child. It will inspire them to embark on a similar journey and let them know that art is more than an activity; it’s an essential part of life.

How many people do you know that go to work everyday dreading it?  How many times have you heard someone say, “Is it Friday, yet?” Fortunately, I don’t have that outlook on my daily life, nor do I refer to what I do as “work” or “a job”. I created exactly what I wanted. Some think it is impossible to do what you love, make a difference in people’s lives, get paid well, and have weekends, evenings, holidays and summers off. Well guess what? It’s not when you become a Wee Little Arts franchise owner.  We give individuals a unique opportunity to make a positive change and embrace a lifestyle of freedom and happiness. With that said, we’d like to share with you a case in point email we just received from one of our franchisee owners:

Ok! I just received the curriculum book and I am so excited. I am on my way out to dinner with Tom and can’t just sit right now to go through it all but I sneaked a peak with the thumb drive key, a smile broke out on my face when I saw you teaching, there is something so reassuring about you. I love my job!! I just hope I can do it justice. I showed my lawyer brother (visiting from Miami) some of the children’s work and he visited at the end of one of my classes. As we were walking out he said, “If only everyone could find the kind of happiness you have found this would be a wonderful world”.

Thank you so much Melissa. Say hello to my friend Michael and the rest of the crew.

Love Marie

We allow people to take charge of their future. With all the school budget cuts, furloughs, and loss of jobs across the nation, now is a perfect opportunity for someone to get paint on their hands and make a difference in their life, in children’s lives and in art education. By helping preschoolers unleash the creativity from within, owners/instructors encounter day to day rewarding and refreshing experiences. It is for that reason we want to share our program, making it available and easily implemented for others to teach around the nation. Together we can change the world.  Are you ready?

For more information on the Wee Little Arts difference, click here.

Melissa, I want to thank you for all you have done for Mary Catherine over the past two years. She absolutely loves your class. I was a bit floored when she came home the day before we were flying to New York and informed me that we had to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art because she had “pieces of art” she needed to see. You made it all happen by taking the time to plan my museum trip!

She was so excited when we arrived. The first piece we saw wasn’t even on the list you provided, it just caught her eye as we were going through one gallery. She reminded me that she had studied this artist last year (and I actually have her rendering hanging in my office). She was even able to tell me how Jackson Pollock “layered” his paint. As I am a complete novice in an art gallery, I was so proud that she was describing things to me. The highlight of our visit to MOMA was when I asked a concierge for directions to a gallery and I explained that we had flown up from South Carolina and my daughter was in a fine art class and we were looking for specific pieces that she studied. The concierge insisted she was not going to let Mary Catherine miss the Van Gogh exhibit. I told her we weren’t able to see the exhibit as it was on a timed tickets, which conflicted with our plans. She took us straight to the exhibit as her special guest so Mary Catherine could see the “Starry Night”.

What a thrill for both of us. Again, you are doing amazing work with your program and I wish you continued success.

I loved taking Wee Little Arts because I love to paint. Not just flat but other things. My green lizard is one of my favorite toys cause I made it.

My mom loves the flowers I made and painted. My sister wants to make flowers too.

In Wee Little Arts I enjoyed getting to do fun and creative projects. Each piece we worked on showed our individuality as there was no right or wrong way to draw or paint. I liked the fact that all of the work was on display for anyone to look at! Every time we do a project we have a book read to us about an artist whose work relates to the project we are working on. Whenever we finish a project we get our work matted so we can bring it home to show our families and friends. All the art teachers always have an enthusiastic humor that makes us laugh and want to do an art project right away!

Thank you for all your hard work with Little School! The parents have been so impressed with what their children have learned. I have told Rebecca Burton about you and said of all of our programs that yours is the one that has to stay because there is no one as far as we are concerned that can teach art to children as well as you. I hope we get an opportunity to work together in the future!!

Carson truly enjoyed your session and is still teaching me about horizon lines and warm and cool colors. I am also appreciative that you taught her how to focus on coloring in the whole page (most of her earlier work lacked a “finished” quality ). Thanks again and please let us know when/where you might be teaching in the future

Please know whenever we see people creating art, and teachers helping with their learning, you are our GOLD standard and we miss you. All the best, and thanks in advance!

Love all the wonderful art that makes the hallway a beautiful space. Keep up the good work!

Aurelyn has always liked expressing herself through drawing. I believe your class has helped a great deal in developing her skill in art. She loves your class. Thank you.