Encouraging our children to use their imaginations and get involved in the arts is one of the best ways to support their overall development while spending quality time together. It also helps set them up for academic success. Kids can gain lifelong skills from exploring their creative side like critical thinking, self-confidence and self-expression, sharing, and collaboration. They also learn ways to share their emotions on their own terms.

Sharing our creativity through art making in all its forms—painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, music, dance, and more— exposes us to a world of innovation, and can expand our cultural awareness.

Take time this week to enjoy the hands-on projects and crafts, artsy games, and engaging videos below.

Then, next week, it’s a pinka-party for Family Night! Your family is invited to paint, draw, and dance with Pinkalicious and Peterrific on PBS Kids 24/7. And keep playing and learning all season long with Summer Camp activities from PBS LearningMedia.

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Exploring the Arts

Unleashing Your Child’s Inner Artist

Grades PreK-3
When kids explore their creativity, it leads to lots and lots of fun. But did you know that it can also lead to other important benefits throughout their lives like better academic outcomes and greater emotional health and happiness. Here are some simple, low-cost ways to make art a part of your family’s everyday life. 

Reading List for the Arts | Pinkalicious and Peterrific

Grades PreK-3
Books are a great way to explore the arts with children—in fact, books are also an art form! Check out these books for early learners about the arts. As you read them aloud, talk about the pictures, the characters, the setting, and the plot. Encourage your children to share their ideas and reactions!

Giving Feedback: Seven Ways to Respond to Your Child’s Creative Work

Grades PreK-3
As parents, we know that our children’s artistic work and expression is an important part of their childhood and teen years. And it matters to young artists just how we respond to them. So how can parents talk with and engage their kids about their creative work? Here are seven suggestions to get you started.

Projects, Games & More

Family Drawing Game

All Ages
Doodling is making a comeback. It’s easy to see why — it’s fun and there are no rules. Plus, it doesn’t have to be good or fancy to have pretty significant impacts on learning. Here’s a family game that gets everyone doodling and is a great activity while waiting for an appointment, getting your oil changed, or any time the family needs a silly break.

Pinkamusical Dance Game

Grades PreK-2
It’s time to dance! In this game from Pinkalicious and Peterrific, learn some new Pinka moves with Pinkalicious or play freeze dance with Peterrific.

Carmen’s World Orchestra

Grades PreK-2
In this game from Let’s Go Luna, Carmen is putting on a concert with instruments from Mexico, India, and Egypt. Players can interact with Carmen, Andy, and Leo to hear their solos or use instrument buttons to contribute to the concert.

3D Art Projects

Grades PreK-5
These works of art are also a 3D sensory treat! Let your children paint and create, then microwave their pictures and hang them up.

George’s Moving Art Machines Game

Grades K-5
Your child can join George in his workshop to create kinetic art that moves with this online game!

Stop Motion Animation | Media Arts Toolkit

Grades 3-8
Watch this video featuring teachers from Bowling Green Junior High in Kentucky as they use stop motion animation to give students opportunities to experiment with technology, work together, and communicate things they’ve learned in a fun and creative way. Then, check out the video support materials to start your own simple animation project!

Three Ways to Make Art From Rubbish With Nigel Poor | KQED Art School

Grades 6-12
Nigel Poor is a photographer who spends time documenting everyday existence, exploring the meaning of the traces of ourselves that we leave behind. She focuses on ordinary objects and materials, researching what makes an object “worthy of preservation,” in her words. Using this PBS LearningMedia video, try out the three art-making activity ideas inspired by Poor and her artistic process.

The Art of Collaboration with KeFe | KQED Art School

Grades 6-12
In this video from PBS LearningMedia, Kelly Tunstall and Ferris Plock are artists who focus on character design and development, creating a rotating cast of surreal cartoon figures inspired by visual culture, including fashion, skateboarding, Japanese regalia and folklore. Explore the entire Art School Collection for more contemporary artists talking about their work and demonstrating hands-on techniques and concepts.

A Summer of Possibilities

Play and learn your way this summer! You can explore and play with your child all season long with a variety of free resources from the PBS LearningMedia Summer Camp and PBS KIDS for Parents collections. Spark curiosity and creativity with hands-on activities, tips, and games around different themes supporting literacy, math, science, and life skills.

Next week were experimenting with the arts! Try the fun art, music, and dance activities in the packets below.

Grades PreK-K

Tune in: Celebrate Family Night and watch Pinkalicious and Peterrific at 7 PM on Friday, June 18th.

Play & Learn: In this packet, there are great, printable summertime activities the whole family can enjoy!

Grades 1-2

Tune in: Celebrate Family Night and watch Pinkalicious and Peterrific at 7 PM on Friday, June 18th.

Play & Learn: In this packet, there are great, printable summertime activities the whole family can enjoy!

For even more games and educational resources for young learners, go to the Sharing Your Creativity Through the Arts Collection on PBS Kids for Parents, and the Art Themed Summer Camp Collection on PBS LearningMedia.