Expose children to art early

December 8, 2008

I can’t wait for my baby niece, Emily, to grow a bit more. She just turned 1, and I’m ready for her to have some art exposure. Her mom has a fine arts degree, and has done commission work for residences and a local restaurant. I dabble around with art, and I’m taking a drawing class to brush up on things and improve my painting.

My sisters and I were around artistic creativity our whole lives, as my dad drew and painted. My watercolor interest was renewed earlier this year, when I visited him in New Orleans. I brought along a few art pieces I had recently done—a drawing of a ballerina fixing her toe shoe, a drawing of a couple of young boys fishing, and a pastel of a fish. He was very kind as he looked at them, and I was very surprised—and very proud—when he said that he, my sister and I could do a three-man art show sometime.

He gave me most of his watercolor books during that trip. It’s amazing to look through the books, some dating back to the 40s, and seeing notes he jotted down in the margins to remind him what colors were used in a particular painting.

But one thing that stands out is that when my dad’s parents realized he could draw as a youngster, they kept him in art supplies. Wow. How cool is that, for his talent to be recognized and gently encouraged from the time he was in kindergarten—in 1930. He eventually became a draftsman and then an architect, and is now retired from his own firm.

And knowing the artistic ability that runs in my family, I can’t wait to see what sorts of masterpieces little Emily will start churning out. Perhaps it will be with some of these art products:

The Creative Projects Table has a wooden shelf at the top that can be moved back, creating a one-person project table. A molded-in storage tray flanks each side, as does pocket storage for tablets and books. It includes two 11” stools and features a heavy-duty support rod for stability, Step2, $129.99.
	The Art Wall Easel is screen painted with dots and has a roll of paper. Roll it back up to expose a blue chalkboard. Art supplies are held in three cups below, Alex, $54.99.
	This video series starts out with Volume 1: Basic Shapes and Animals. The DVD uses energetic songs and animation to reinforce the principle that everything around you is made of basic shapes: circle, square, oval and triangle. A teacher shows a class how to draw the shapes and how to use shapes to draw several animals. The DVD is for ages 2 and up, The Art House, $17.99.
	The Creative Critter Mess Free Art Pad for very wee ones has a butterfly-shaped drawing panel that offers two-sided play with water painting. When the butterfly brush touches the art pad, colorful pictures appear. On the other side, baby can create his or her own designs. Twist off the top of the butterfly brush to easily refill with water, Sassy, $12.99.
The Surfin Kids Art Time Easel is perfect for the budding artist and environmentalist. It’s eco-friendly and non-toxic, Ecotots, $180.
	Your child’s creative side will come alive with this Paint Table & Stool set. The stools open for storage and the tabletop includes compartments for storing art supplies, LumiSource, $135.
	The Roll.n.Go holds 16 regular or 8 chunky crayons. Made of felt with ribbon accents, from Dine.n.Doodles, $16.95.
The Fundy Play Table has a chalkboard (or dry erase) top and a 4” deep storage area with a slow-closing safety lid and a removable wooden caddy to keep art supplies in one place. The table has four locking casters, and comes in natural, blue or orange, Argington, $299.
	This Art Desk features the licensed Disney Pixar’s Cars. It is all-in-one and comes with over 140 art supplies including color pencils, crayons, multi-colored markers, paints and brushes, and rubber stamps. It has an adjustable tilt top surface, and storage areas, Delta Children’s Products, $59.99.