Written by Kaitlin Oliver, Transforming Lives Trainee.
Bringing children and art together in Children’s Art Week!
Children’s Art Week is a UK-wide programme run by Engage, the National Association for Gallery Education. Its three weeks of exciting, creative events hosted across the country to explore the arts. Engage is very passionate about increasing advocacy where everyone can have access to the visual arts, regardless of people’s ecological circumstances.
Children’s Art Week is a wonderful celebration that inspires and encourages young minds to explore their creativity, express themselves, and discover the joy of art. Art is incredibly important for children’s development and providing the opportunity to express their ideas and emotions, whether it be through crafting, painting, sculpting, singing, dancing or roleplaying.
This annual event, held in various locations, aims to provide children with opportunities to engage in diverse art activities, fostering their imagination, self-confidence, and artistic skills. With its inclusive and vibrant atmosphere, Children’s Art Week plays a pivotal role nurturing the next generation of artists and creative thinkers.
Parents, carers, educators, galleries, museums and community groups will be coming together to inspire self-expression and support well-being. The aim is to encourage families, young people, disabled people, older people and early years groups to be more engaged with visual arts.
Engaging in art activities with your child is a fantastic, enjoyable way of spending time with them.
Children’s Art Week will include different themes for each week. Below is a great idea to get you started!
Tissue paper lizard:
You will need:
- Our lizard template printed on white card (or draw your own!)
- Brown felt-tip pen or pencil
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Brown tissue paper
- Pritt stick
Method:
Step 1: Print our lizard template onto card, colour it in and cut it out.
Step 2: Cut out a 12x5cm rectangle from your brown tissue paper.
Step 3: Fold your tissue paper into thirds, then twist into a thin, long strip.*
Step 4: Use your Pritt stick to put glue onto your lizard’s body. Then, starting from the tip of the tail, stick down the twisted strip.
Step 5: Repeat steps 2 and 3 two more times. Glue each strip as far down the lizard’s body as it will fit and trim any that are too long.
Step 6: Repeat steps 2 and 3 again. Curl this strip into a roughly triangular shape so that it fits the shape of your lizard’s head. You will probably have to make the length shorter.
Step 7: Glue the edge of the spiral and stick the end in place. Hold while it dries.
Step 8: Glue the head shape onto your lizard as shown.
*Tip: Instead of twisting the tissue paper, you could scrunch it into lots of small balls to stick on instead.
