Summer Series: Vol III

Week of: July 21st

All about ART!!

"We don't make mistakes. Just happy little accidents." -- Bob Ross

๐Ÿ˜Š๐ŸŒณ

(get it?! ๐Ÿ‘† happy little trees?! โค๏ธ that show)

Welcome to Vol. III of the summer email series.

If you've been reading, you know the drill...

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

If you're new around these parts, here's all you need to know:

  1. We think summer can have awesome times and not so awesome times - it's to be expected and totally ok if you're not ok 

  2. This Summer Series can be super helpful for any family - but it's specifically designed for families with amazingly neurologically diverse kiddos 

  3. If you want to catch up on the ones you've missed, all summer series can be found HERE

Now let's dive in to Volume III - woohoo!

As with every week, you'll find: something to do out and about; something to do at home; and a parenting tip for each age group. Pick and choose as you please! 

AGES 0-5

  • OUTING: Unfortunately, most of the 'art' for this age group revolves around crafts. Our outing recommendation for this age group is the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA)! You might think your toddler is too young for a museum, but:

    • 1. it's FREE (ages 0-6);

    • 2. It's more kid-friendly than you would think, and

    • 3. they're never too young! See what they like!

  • FUN @ HOME: Mark making of any/all kinds! Roll out paper and put out a bunch of mark making tools (pencils, pens, markers, dot paint dabbers, etc) and see what they do! **For extra credit - throw some loose parts and glue in there 

  • PARENTING TIP: Process over product! If the art is for THEM, it's not about what it looks like... it's what it FEELS like! Let it be creative and beautiful and messy 

AGES 5-11

  • OUTING: Go see some art!! MFA Boston, Quincy Art Association, Milton Art Center, Braintree Community Arts Center, and I'm SURE there are lots I'm missing!

  • FUN @ HOME: Art together! Sit and draw together; paint on canvas or paper; use watercolors to paint the sky at sunset, doodle! The options are endless when you rid yourself of the preconceived notion of what 'art' is supposed to be

  • PARENTING TIP: They see and hear everything you do - when you're doing art together, be cognizant of how you treat yourself when your painting doesn't look that way you thought, or your drawing didn't come out the way you wanted. Most of us were raised with a fixed mindset in a product driven society - it's our nature to be hard on ourselves, but we don't want our kids to be! Love the mistakes you make and think about happy little trees!

AGES 11+

  • OUTING: You could DEF still go to MFA or any of the suggestions above. But here's another idea - Michaels! (Or any similar art supply store) Give them a budget and see what they pick out! There's always a way to learn about them - and this could be a beautiful learning experience to see what they're drawn to.

  • FUN @ HOME: Put those art supplies you got to good use! Draw, doodle, paint, color, mold, sculpt, cut, glue - find their style... and yours?!

  • PARENTING TIP: Follow their lead. Do they want you to do art with them? Is there a class you could take together? Or is art a quiet expression that they'd rather explore alone? Be respectful either way - and art on your own if they don't want company!

Do you have any ideas or suggestions?! We'd love to hear them!! 

(ESPECIALLY if your kids are also highly sensitive / neurospicy / not the super adaptable type kid that can go anywhere and do anything)

Reply and tell me your favorite places to go and things to do!!

Artfully yours,

Heather & Elements Academy Family

P.S. Did you know....?! 

We have an online membership program?!

We help parents become the best version of themselves and bring out the best in their kids and families. 

Our TOC lately has been kids saying, 

"I'M BOOOOOORED" 

We'll share some insights in our summer series next week!

(Registration opens every season so keep an eye out for the Fall opening!)

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Summarizing Summer

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Summer Series: Volume II