About the Workshops

Children’s development should be looked at holistically with consideration for how each area of development affects one another. Cognitive (understanding and development), social (literacy and communication), emotional, spiritual, and physical (motor skills) are interconnected with each other. For example, emotional and cognitive work together, and enable the child to develop an understanding of their emotions, and how to communicate to get desired results (for example, crying is symbol of sadness). 

These developmental traits can be developed in many different forms, but today we will be discussing how they can be developed through art.  

For our youngest creators, art is not only a form of expression, but is also an excellent way to develop gross motor skills. Gross motor skills are the (physical) skills which require whole body movement and involve the large (core stabilizing) muscles of the body to perform everyday functions, such as standing and walking, running and jumping, and sitting upright at the table. Typically, gross motor skills develop first before fine motor however, both are needed for each skill to develop.  

Here are a few fun art activities that you can do with your little ones at home that combine creativity and the developing gross motor skills and you can have fun with.  

Studio Activity

COTTON BALL PAINT THROWING

This fun activity is a unique way to paint also works on gross motor skills; focusing on the non-locomotive (non-moving) skill of throwing and hand/eye coordination. 

What you Need:

  • Cotton balls
  • Washable paint
  • Recycled cardboard to put paint on
  • Large surface area or paper to create on

What you Do:

  • Find a surface like the side of a fence to create or hang a large paper on. 
  • Take paint and pour onto piece of recycled cardboard.
  • Dip the cotton balls into paint. 
  • Standing at a short distance, throw the cotton balls onto the surface. 
  • Try to extend the distance to work on throwing skills. 
  • Discuss the design you have created. 
  • A fun addition is to draw circles and aim for the middle.  

Things to Think About:

  • Try different methods of throwing, like over/under hand or throw the cotton ball. 
  • Talk to them about where they want the cotton ball to land and how they can get it there (hand/eye coordination). 
  • Discuss designs they can create by throwing the cotton balls in certain spots of the canvas. 

SIMON SAYS PAINTING

This experience is all about working on gross motor, sensory experiences and getting messy. 

What you Need:

  • Washable paint
  • Recycled cardboard
  • Large piece of paper or surface that can be easily washed (driveway/sidewalk/deck) 

What you Do:

  • Find a large piece of paper or space that can easily be washed after this experience. 
  • Pour paint onto recycled cardboard.
  • Ask children to dip their feet into the paint.
  • Next, demonstrate how to do gross motor movements on the canvas like jumping, tip toeing, skipping, hopping, and stomping.
  • They will use these gross motor exercises to create an artwork across the “canvas”. 

Things to Think About:

  • During the experience ask children to describe the feeling of the paint on their feet (soft, cold, squishy, etc.) 
  • Expand vocabulary with new adjectives to describe what they are feeling, what they are doing, and how they are moving. (Cognitive, Communication, Literacy Development) 
  • Discuss what actions can create different colors, designs, and images.