| Let children paint. Put them where they will cause the | | | | the technique, let them have a go at creating your |
| least damage, spread newspaper on the floor, drape | | | | silhouette. |
| them in old shirts and stick around to check that they | | | | Allow pavement art. Buy your children a selection of |
| don't tramp paint about the place - but don't stop them. | | | | chunky coloured chalks and let them draw on paving |
| They can paint on the floor or on a table, but an easel | | | | stones. The effect is dramatic but not damaging or |
| is most convenient. Choose one that also has a | | | | long lasting - the first rain will wash the chalk away. |
| chalkboard side. | | | | Draw faces on oranges, bananas and eggs - to |
| Channel your child's desire to customize your walls and | | | | surprise your children and make them smile. Then let |
| belongings. Buy some decorators' lining paper and unroll | | | | them have a go at creating some comic characters of |
| it across an entire room. Provide paints, felt tips, | | | | their own. |
| stickers, stencils and whatever else your child wants | | | | Recycle your rubbish. Collect old bottles, jam jars, |
| and leave them to it. The result may be a panorama, a | | | | yogurt pots cereal packets, cartons, packaging, ribbons, |
| series of cartoons, a banner, graffiti or just a great | | | | wrapping paper, greetings cards, remnants of cloth and |
| scribble but the opportunity to deface such a huge | | | | other arty-crafty scraps in a big plastic crate. These |
| expanse of plain paper is irresistible to most children. It's | | | | will provide ready-made materials for modelling |
| also a fail-safe activity to play dates. | | | | sessions. Young children adore sitting on a splash mat |
| Discover cartoon art. Get your children a book that | | | | with all this detritus and some craft glue, making weird |
| demonstrates, step-by-step, how to draw cartoons. If | | | | and wonderful constructions. Let them paint or colour in |
| they follow the instructions carefully, they'll be amazed | | | | the finished objects. |
| at how easily they can create impressive effects. | | | | Invest in a mini sewing machine, if you don't already |
| Doodle with your kids. Get them to 'take a line for a | | | | have a full-sized one. These are brilliant for quick |
| walk' without lifting the crayon or pen off the paper. | | | | mending jobs and for affixing interminable name tapes. |
| Show them how you can use one continuous line to | | | | They're also popular with older children, who may want |
| write, draw and shade. Ask your children to close their | | | | to do your sewing for you! |
| eyes and draw from memory. Creating images with a | | | | Visit galleries and exhibitions armed with sketchbooks |
| single line is a simple but exciting art exercise. | | | | and pencils so that your kids can choose to copy |
| Draw around your kids, as they lie on the floor on a | | | | artworks, or else simply sit and draw if that's their |
| large sheet of paper. Then let them add their own | | | | preference. You might also treat a gallery visit like a |
| features and clothes and colour themselves in. | | | | walk, simply strolling through the rooms, stopping |
| Draw lots of circles on a sheet of paper and invite | | | | wherever something grabs your children's attention. |
| your child to turn each one into a different face. | | | | Offer some ideas, such as seeing if anyone in the |
| Project your child's profile on a piece of paper, using | | | | paintings looks like someone you know, or seeing if |
| side lighting to cast a shadow. Draw around the | | | | you can spot a car in any of the pictures; but avoid |
| shadow's edge to get an accurate silhouette that can | | | | long, ponderous interpretations as these can put |
| then be cut out. Use black paper for a dramatic, period | | | | younger children off art for life! |
| effect like a Victorian silhouette. Having demonstrated | | | | |