Do you ever feel nervous before trying something new?
Of course you do! This is so normal and something we need to normalise for our kids.
Doing something for the first time can be scary to them but there are ways to help.
If you have a child who's a bit of a worrier like I do, most likely you do things already to prepare them before going somewhere new.
One of the things I do, is try to show them what they will be doing before they do it. Then answer any questions they have. This allows them time to think of all the worst possible outcomes and then feel prepared with their minds at ease before going.
So what to tell your child before a class?
Firstly, here is what you need to know to be able to pass on to them:
Art play is essentially a sensory experience. It is physical.
Hands squeezing paint and glue; and tipping out glitter!
Fingers doing their pincer grip thing to grab beads and sequins.
Feet standing in paint to move it around a canvas, because, it's so much fun!
The most important thing to know about these sessions is that they are child led. The child is in control of what they want to do & what they don't want to do. They make all the choices: choice of paint colour, how many beads to add, whether to do what so & so is doing, whether to only mix colours and never actually paint on the paper (this happens so often 😂)
In other words it is about kids having fun with art stuff. Using their imaginations and playing.
There are some rules to be aware of:
No throwing anything of any kind.
No going out of the area.
Be kind to everyone
Pause before speaking especially about other's art work: be kind
Share everything & you will get to use everything
I've compiled a list of questions that your child might ask before coming to a class, with answers in response. Use these as a prompt/guide for your convo with your child, you know them best and know how best to ease their minds. Here is what to tell your child before they come to a class:
What will we be doing? You will create a painting of your own & then you will be creating on a big canvas like real artists use. This will be shared with your friends, playing with paints, tools like scrapers, rollers, big brushes, stampers, even your hands and feet if you want to.
Will anyone help me? Yes, there will always be someone to help. You can ask Gabbie or any other adults who are there.
What if I don't like painting? Then there will be some other things to play with that aren't to do with paint. Sometimes drawing, stickers, stamps or playdough.
What if I get paint on myself? That's ok and Gabbie thinks it's actually the best part! You will be wearing old clothes & an art t- shirt & there are wipes & water to wash off any paint on you.
What if I don't know what to paint? Here I would say two things. First "you can start by mixing paint in the jars and see if you get an idea from there. If not, try just painting the page in the colour you have chosen. " Second, can you think of ideas now? Let's see what we can come up with together.
What will happen at the end? At the end you will be asked to help clean up and if you've got paint on you, you will be asked to wash it off and get dry with a towel.
Can I take my picture home? Yes, leave it to dry and then at the end you can take it home.
There is one question that I get asked during a session that your child might need to know about: Back story, there isn't any water on the tables to clean brushes.
How do I clean my brush when I want to change colours? You wipe it on the table and give the table a nice new coat of paint. When you come to use it again it won't have the colour on it anymore.
If you've got another other questions please check out our FAQs on our website or alternatively email us bundabubs@gmail.com
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