Bringing Art Home: Fostering Creativity Outside the Classroom

While many schools are cutting back on their arts programs, Delphi Santa Monica is proud that arts and music are a vital part of every child’s academic program. We understand that children need the arts in their lives in order to flourish.

But just as art is a necessary part of the school day, there are also many ways that you can foster creativity outside the classroom. If you’re concerned because you don’t consider yourself a Michelangelo, you have nothing to worry about. You don’t have to be an expert artist in order to create art with your children. Here are several ways that you can bring art home:

Make Easy Home Versions of Famous Art

Learning about “old” art styles can seem a bit boring at first for children, but there are easy ways to make it more accessible for your kids. For example, your daughter or son might think it’s a lot more fun to learn about Jackson Pollack if they can make their own splatter paintings.Or, you can cut out shapes of different sizes from colored paper and construct your own “cubist” works.

Visit Art Museums

One of the many benefits of being located in Santa Monica is that our students can visit so many museums. You don’t have to wait for your child to visit during school trips, though. One of the best ways to help foster your children’s creativity is exploring all the creativity that is already on display. Many of Los Angeles’s museums have exhibits specially designed for children. For example, the Getty Villa in Malibu (which focuses on Greek and Roman art) has an entire room where your children can draw their own designs on pretend Greek vases.

Think Outside the Canvas

When it comes to encouraging art in our children’s lives, it’s important to think about more than just traditional painting. Jumpstarting the creative impulse in your children outside of school means exploring other avenues of expression. With most homes having more than a few smartphones around, that might mean trying your hands at digital photography or even filmmaking. Feel free to try as many styles of art as you can get your hands on, and you might find your children flourishing in the arts!

Find out more about the arts at Delphi and how your child can take part!