With the Kids

Open-Ended Art With Kids: Collages

My favorite kind of activity to do with Kieran is open-ended: those with no particular finished product in mind. I love seeing his creativity blossom this way: he is in total control of the activity, and I never know where it will lead. Some days that means just getting out paper, paints and crayons and letting him go to town. Other days I set-up supplies and give a general idea. Here’s one that he enjoyed lately.

Art with Kids: Collages

I supplied him with a variety of objects like buttons, die cuts, ribbons, as well as a large sheet of paper and glue and explained that he could select whichever objects he wanted to use, and stick them down to make art.

Open Ended Art With Kids by Francine Clouden for Make & Takes-1

I separated the objects into type, buttons in one box, paper in another etc.

Open Ended Art With Kids by Francine Clouden for Make & Takes-3 Open Ended Art With Kids by Francine Clouden for Make & Takes-2

These all came from my craft stash!

We decided to use his big art book. Here is the set up

Open Ended Art With Kids by Francine Clouden for Make & Takes-4

I gave him an empty box and he chose what he wanted to use

Open Ended Art With Kids by Francine Clouden for Make & Takes-5

Then he got to work sticking!

Open Ended Art With Kids by Francine Clouden for Make & Takes-6

Open Ended Art With Kids by Francine Clouden for Make & Takes-9

He went back several times to choose new pieces

Open Ended Art With Kids by Francine Clouden for Make & Takes-7

And ended up making four different collages in his book

Open Ended Art With Kids by Francine Clouden for Make & Takes-10

Open Ended Art With Kids by Francine Clouden for Make & Takes-14

In total he spent over an hour working happily on his collage pages.

This is a great activity for those days stuck inside, or keeping kids occupied while preparing dinner for example. Additionally, the collages can be built on and added to over time. To mix it up a bit you can provide items in the same color or the same shape for your child to use.

Try this DIY Spin Art with a Salad Spinner project as well!

Make and Takes more recent posts