Art is a beautiful way for your child to express themselves and learn how to interact with others and the world around them. Creative time can impact your child’s emotional, social, and cognitive development. The projects you complete with your child can leave a lasting impact on them and strengthen your family dynamic. Keep reading to discover the benefits of this art form and find your new favorite collaborative projects.
What Is Collaborative Art?
Collaborative art is any form of art that involves team members working together. For these projects, each team member significantly contributes to the product, and the result is unique and complex work that everyone can feel proud to share.
This form of art can strengthen communities and build relationships. Like any art, collaborative art can come in many forms. For children, sensory play can be a form of collaborative art where children interact with new ideas and learn to play with others. There is no limit to what is or isn’t collaborative art as long as more than one person contributes significantly to the finished product.
What Are the Benefits of Collaborative Family Art Projects?
Collaborative family art projects benefit children and families. Alongside impacting their development, these projects can create memories your child will cherish. Benefits of family art projects include:
- Giving children the creative lead: You can light your child’s creative spark by encouraging them to take the lead. As your child encounters new challenges, they can experiment with trial and error to find what works best. They learn to refine their artistic process and enjoy trying new things with less direction.
- Eliminating pressures: You cannot define art by what it is or is not, but many often believe it is a lengthy process that requires time, dedication, and expenses. However, you can eliminate this pressure by encouraging your child to make art at home with the supplies you already have.
- Teaching new skills: Collaborative art can enhance problem-solving skills, boost skills, and promote self-love. You can use these projects to build your child’s confidence and foster a love of creating new things they enjoy.
- Providing relaxation techniques: Creating art is an excellent stress reliever. You can teach your child how to unwind and express their emotions through collaborative art projects.
- Improving academic outcomes: Art can enhance your child’s creative abilities and strengthen their fine motor skills. Cutting, pasting, drawing, painting, and working with clay or beads can improve dexterity, visual spacing skills, and coordination. These skills translate to better academic outcomes as your child progresses through school.
- Fostering together time: Children communicate in various ways, and art provides a shared means of spending time together during which time they can learn to work together and value taking turns.
- Giving children a voice: Young children often face an influx of emotions they don’t understand how to deal with or identify. Art empowers children to express their thoughts in multidimensional ways.
How to Make Time for Family Art Projects
Finding time in busy schedules can be challenging, but it’s well worth the reward of spending time with your child and encouraging them to refine their skills and expand their abilities. Finding time for art projects benefits your child. Here are some of the best ways to make time for your family projects:
- Make family events a priority: Establishing a family culture should be a top priority. Cook dinner together in the kitchen. Read a book next to your child while they complete homework. Watch a show together. Cultivate a sense of togetherness and show your family the value of it.
- Write it down: Put this time on your calendar and ask everyone in your house to do the same. Make it a plan rather than a floating idea.
- Don’t sacrifice family time for work: Be present for your child. If the only night they’re free is Wednesday, avoid working late at the office and refrain from checking emails and taking phone calls once you get home.
- Eliminate distractions: Ensure your children have finished their homework, eaten a recent meal, and are ready to dedicate time to your family. Turn off your phones and enjoy uninterrupted time together.
7 At-Home Collaborative Family Projects
Now that you know the benefits of family arts and crafts and how to make time for these collaborative projects, you need some fun ideas to do at home. Here are some excellent collaborative projects you can complete with your family.
1. Make an Abstract Mural
Murals are a great family project that can take as little or as much time as you’d like. Create a mural with one large canvas and a stencil drawing or freehand outline. You can also craft a paint-by-number using small paper or canvases over a large piece of cardboard or plywood. To complete this project, have each family member paint a small section around the table together.
2. Create a Lego Table
Lego tables empower your family to create new projects over and over again. A used coffee table, glue, storage containers, a stool, and Lego base plates are all you need. Prime and paint the table whatever colors your child loves. Once dry, glue the base plates and fill storage containers with Lego bricks. Your family can visit the table anytime you want to create a new project or add to an old one.
3. Paint Stones
Grab some rocks and paint for this fun project. Any time you want to get creative, pull out your supplies and paint the night away. Keep your collection at home or place them in locations throughout your town to surprise neighbors and friends.
4. Try String Art
With wood, string, and pushpins, you can create intricate designs to display in your home. You can use stencils to outline the picture or let your child work freely. Either way, you can complete new designs every day and rework existing pieces as often as you want.
5. Make a Cornhole Set
You can create a cornhole board by using plywood. You can ask your child to help with the construction, but your collaborative project will primarily be painting the boards. Paint a base color to hide the wood, and work with your child to paint unique designs to customize the set. Every time you play cornhole, you’ll remember the fun you had painting the boards together.
6. Build a Bookshelf
Building a bookshelf is fun and practical whether your child is a book lover or has a stock of toys with nowhere to go. Gather wooden boards and construct a shelf your family can enjoy. Ask them to paint it with you and decorate it when you finish it. Set the bookshelf up in their bedroom or place it in the living room, where they can see it daily.
7. Construct a Treehouse
Building a treehouse takes time and dedication. You’ll need tools to cut the boards and adjust the construction. You’ll also need to measure the tree you’re using and find stable hardware to keep the treehouse in a safe condition. Your child can help you measure, cut, and place the pieces. They can also paint the boards and pick out unique features like curtains or welcome mats. Every time they enter the treehouse to enjoy the beautiful space, they’ll think of you.
Find Engaging Education at Commonwealth Charter Academy
CCA understands the importance of family in education, so we encourage our teachers and parents to work together to create enriching student experiences. At CCA, your child will find unique opportunities and foster a love of learning in a dynamic environment.
We use personalized learning to align curricula with each child’s interests and goals. This strategy empowers us to serve each student and family in a way that works for them. Contact our team to learn more about what we can do for your family.
