This week we are inspired by our collaboration with the Botanic Gardens and the amazing mud play area they’ve build us. You don’t need a giant area like this though, just some mud in a tray or storage drawer or an empty area of the garden to dig in will be enjoyed by children. Try …
We thought we’d share some of the activities for little ones from our collaboration with University of Dundee Botanic Gardens and today we are starting with making art from natural materials. These pictures are from the artist Andy Goldsworthy and you can see how he uses natural materials like leaves and sticks to make patterns in …
Inspired by the current exhibition at the DCA by Stuart Whipps, we have collaborated with the University of Dundee Botanic Gardens to offer families from Homestart and Dundee International Women’s Centre free visits and creative activities when they are there. There is now an amazing mud pit for wee ones to explore, try out some messy …
All this week Art at the Start, DCA and Dundee Science Centre have teamed up to do science and art activities, all themed on art and looking. You can find them all on the science centre’s home learning portal here www.dundeesciencecentre.org.uk/early-years-week You’ll find some colour theory, optical illusions, remembering games and more. There are also …
This week we are making art from light and shadows. This activity is very easy, needs only things you will have at home and makes no mess. It is also a really nice direct way for little ones to see how their actions have immediate effects; as they move about, their shadows move. This is …
When painting with wee ones we seem to make a lot of footprints. This is great as they like the feel of the paint on their feet and it’s also a quick way for them to see their impact in the world through mark making when they stamp down their print. It’s also nice to …
In this activity we want to allow little ones to explore clay; how it feels and what it can do. So we are setting up a couple of invitations for them to explore it and trying to follow their lead rather than giving them a set idea of what they have to produce. It can …
We are continuing with the Children’s Art Week theme of nature and trying out some flower patterns. If you have older children then DCA have put up an activity for making nature inspired wallpaper here but this is a slightly simpler version for little ones. It’s a really nice way to connect little ones to nature through …
This week we are celebrating Children’s Art Week. Try this activity designed for 0-3 year olds on the CAW20 theme of nature. You will need to take your wee one outside to the garden or for a wander in a park so you can collect some interesting leaves to print with. Talk about the different shapes, …
This is a fun way to add interest and a new way of painting for toddlers. It is good for their motor skills as they try and use the long brushes and it also lets them paint really big and with lots of expression so it’s nice to see what they come up with. This …