Art is so much fun with kids! Maybe you could try having them draw fruits, nature (like sun, star, moon, etc.) or even have them color a really cool image where they can learn some values. I’m gonna think of more but hopefully you’ll get some inspiration.

Just google whatever theme you’re working on plus “craft”—like “truck craft.” You can find crafts about everything.

For drawing, my kids love the Ed Emberley drawing books.  They teach you to draw animals, objects and buildings/vehicles with simple shapes.  I do them alongside the kids so they can watch the picture being drawn as well.  Our two favorites for the younger years are “Animals” and “Make a World”.  For older kids, Ed Emberley has other more advanced books “The Big Green”, “Big Purple” etc.  And we also use “Draw Write Now”.  This is one of my kids favorite things to do!  Have fun!

Too bad that Worldbook no longer puts out their old Childcraft volumes.  Maybe eBay would have their craft volume still available?  And this won’t help for a kindergarten child, but eventually your child will grow out of just crafts and may want to go on to serious art study, so it won’t hurt to get your own skills up to a decent level.  For that, I would suggest you check out Betty Edwards’ programs:  http://www.learn-to-draw-right.com/betty-edwards.html  For people who don’t think they can “do” art, she teaches them to see as an artist does and has remarkable results.

Internet:

The Crafty Crow ~ a children’s craft collective http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/
3-5 years old: http://www.thecraftycrow.net/preschoolers/
One Pretty Thing Kid’s Craft Roundup, go to http://www.oneprettything.com/  then click on categories, then click on Kid’s Craft Roundup, then click on a date
Play At Home Mom: http://playathomemom3.blogspot.com/

Books:

Teach Yourself VISUALLY Crafting with Kids by Jennifer Casa
What shall we do today? 60 creative crafting projects for kids by Catherine Woram

Art is actually my weakest subject!  For pre-school years, I used “Math Arts” and “Science Arts” by Kohl.

I thought of some specific projects…
pasta rainbows: http://www.brilliantbeginningspreschoolutah.com/2010_01_01_archive.html#2648531804301063811
snow paint on snowflakes: http://www.momendeavors.com/2011/01/snow-paint.html
melted crayon art: http://momscraftyspace.blogspot.com/2011/08/melted-crayon-art-tutorial.html
painting food with liquid food: http://www.skiptomylou.org/2010/06/21/food-painting-with-living-locurto/
painting with melted crayons: http://www.gsheller.com/2009/09/thursday-craftpainting-with-melted.html

more ideas:
go to: http://pinterest.com/ & do a search ‘kids art projects’ for example

http://www.shirleysprepackagedcrafts.com/

I know…I know…I could do these on my own but I never found the time to plan and gather things for projects with my little ones while also homeschooling older ones.  These have been great for us.  Everything (even a 4” piece of yarn if needed) comes in the box for a month’s worth of crafts.  I used these last year for both my K and 3 year old.

just a quick thought for fall art - Rockin Granola blog just mentioned doing apple prints.

you cut apples in half and use them as stamps.

Ta-Da!  Art!

its on my list

I am using Preschool Art: It’s the Process, not the Product by MaryAnn Kohl with my 3 and 4 year-old this year. I am not crafty or artistic at all and this book is good because it is about working with different art mediums rather than making a craft. I think it is so good to watch their creativity rather than try to guide them to make something specific. Although I have done some crafts on Catholic Icing too and found them to manageable. You will have to give me some tips on homeschooling preschool with a new babies. I am expecting #4 in October - preschool has been so much fun so far and I am a little worried about continuing after the baby is born.

Completely off topic.  Just learned another homeschooling family’s house is on fire.  The family is safe but it looks like they will lose everything.  Please pray for them .

There are so many fabulous websites out there.  Here are some I like:

http://pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/

http://teachmama.com/

http://www.thatartistwoman.org/

http://artfulparent.typepad.com/artfulparent/artsy-ideas-to-get-you-started.html

Check out makingfriends.com-they have free printable paper dolls and a bazillion outfits including multicultural ones that could be good for social studies too! Also, playing with color is great at that age, you could totally do stuff like make homemade playdough and red, blue, and yellow food coloring and then let her make secondary colors by mixing different colors of playdough. I also remember in kindergarten making construction paper animals for each letter of the alphabet and making macaroni necklaces (try using a couple different types and talk about patterns!)
Good luck!

I think for your two year olds, they would enjoy working with their hands..finger painting..play dough..let them use crayons that are oversized for their smaller hand…use large paper (butcher paper or newsprint) tape it on the wall and let them express themselves without a theme..just explore different markers etc.
For the older child (4 Year old) she may be more interested in making booklets..or scrapbooks with a theme..of nature ..leaves..trees…. take her on a hike and observe all the wonders of Gods creation…then if possible let her paint or draw what she remembers….Ask her to draw her family..or herself with a pet…or her room or a playground..anything that increases her observational skills….and lets her feelings out.

Check out the cool things that are happening at my son’s preschool.  We’re so lucky to have found such a special place for him!

http://casamarias.blogspot.com/

Starting in kindergarten, my children routinely (almost weekly) have to draw an illustration for something we’ve read - a poem, a story, or a Bible story.  We also occasionally try to copy works of art - using mainly colored pencils, because they aren’t messy!  By middle school this has tapered off, but my kids still - hands down - out sketch most of their peers.  They weren’t always happy in the youngest grades to comply, but they all love it now.  I buy blank books from http://www.barebooks.com, and have kept them all.

http://www.deepspacesparkle.com/

Lots of info there!

Not sure if there is allowance in your budget or time for this, but have you looked into local art / craft supply stores (JoAnn’s, Hobby Lobby, etc.)?  If you peruse the aisles, you can often times come across tear-off coupons that provide instructions, a photo, and a supply list.  Since items can be sold in bulk, perhaps share expenses w/ a homeschooling (or not) friend or neighbor.  Many of these are geared towards vacation Bible schools especially, so the stores are flooeded with them in the spring, especially.
What about art classes at a local art center?  We have one nearby that offers special classes for homeschooling parents.  I do not homeschool, but I recently signed my son up for an after-school class where they learn all kinds of cool paper-folding tricks, origami, etc.  He loves that stuff!  You can also find books on it in your library.  Good luck!

“Drawing with Children” by Mona Brooks is an excellent resource…Donna young’s website has quality free printouts for the warm-up exercises, etc. 

http://www.donnayoung.org/art/draw1-younger.htm

I’ve been using this program with my kids starting as young as three depending on their motor skills and it’s great, it also helps them to learn letter formation faster because the method is all about teaching the child to recognize the elements of shape (lines, circles, dots, angle lines, etc.) in everything they see and then they can start to break it down themselves when they draw.

Some of the craft stores (Michael’s, AC Moore, Joann’s, etc) have free weekend craft “clinics”.  Maybe you could enlist your husband to take your older kids to those.  It would be an easy way of exposing both of them to art.  (Lowe’s and Home Depot have woodworking clinics, too.)

Arwen, I really like the Artpacs (Art with a Purpose) that you can get from Catholic Heritage Curricula—lots of projects and very reasonably priced ($8.95 for 36 lessons)! Here’s a link:

http://www.chcweb.com/catalog/ArtwithaPurposeArtPac1/product_info.html

Artpac 1 says it is for first grade, so maybe it would be better in the years to come for you. We also use Draw Write Now—my kids have taken off with it this year! But it is mostly drawing/coloring along with copywork—not much cutting and pasting etc. Looks like a lot of other good ideas from everyone!

I second checking out the artful parent blog (don’t know how to link, sorry, but google will find it!). She has great ideas that are about process not product. We have an easel where my daughter can paint and a sketchbook with colored pencils for drawing. I don’t do a lot of projects but she draws and paints all the time. Another fun thing to do is put a big piece of paper on the wall and make a mural. I let my daughter use the camera to take pictures of signs of spring back in March and April and we would print and hang up her pictures. She could add drawings, too. I don’t have anything up for fall yet but even just being able to draw on the wall (sort of) is lots of fun.

Oh! And it’s leaf season! Leaf rubbings, gluing leaves on to paper, etc. Check out the book Leaf Man and then go on a walk to make your own leaf pictures.

Get a copy of the book…Drawing Lab by Carla Sonheim.  Wonderful!

Pinterest is really good for this! Both for FINDING the projects and then SAVING them. Oh, y ou really need to sing up if you are not already. I have a board called something like “Kid Crafts” that is basically a collection of random ideas like this and I am totally going to visit some of the above links and pin some more.

Pinterest. YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO!

Very frash article! I my opinion,I do them alongside the kids so they can watch the picture being drawn as well.  Our two favorites for the younger years are “Animals” and “Make a World”.  For older kids, Ed Emberley has other more advanced books “The Big Green”, “Big Purple” etc.Click:Burberry totes bags online

Hi,
I’m an Art teacher and I have search the internet for do may projects. There are alot of blogs out there that teach art. You can just google seach it and put the age and topic or theme you are looking for.  There are some books I use from - one is actually a homeschooling book.  A Beka - I like their books because their series is all God based.  The other book is fun because it has simple projects for every season Art for All Seasons and How to Teach Ar to Children - published by evan-moor.  the publisher also has a lot of other books you can refer to.  Art for the smaller children is to work on their motor skills.  A lot of children lack in motor skills like simple cutting.  I’ve worked with a lot of students that were in 2nd to 5th grade where I had to go back to basics with them. Cutting paper on the line for some is a lot of work.  as simple as it sounds alot of people over look Art as being an important topic. Basic color mixing “how do you make purple?”. I’ve had 7th graders who didn’t even know.  Best of luck. my email is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and also my blog is http://tinyteaart.blogspot.com/
if you need any help feel free to reach out.  It is what I do for a living. God Bless - Christine