Free Art Resources for Kindergarten
Published:
May 18, 2021
Contributor:
Jeannette Tuionetoa
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.
I love the mind of an artist. It is amazing how they can create when people (like me) can barely make a stick figure. Your early learners can begin creating with these free art resources for kindergarten.
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My best friend’s husband is an artist. I stare at his drawing and paintings in awe; I cannot fathom that kind of creativity just flowing through someone’s brain.
I am a “let me know what to do and I will do it” type of person. However, when it comes to creating, I am like a deer in headlights.
I think it could have been because I was never really exposed to the arts as a child. If I was, that side of my brain definitely was not encouraged.
The truth is that art is extremely beneficial to a young learner’s journey.
Here are just some ways that art lessons in kindergarten benefit our awesome learners:
1. Art helps kindergartens get experience with process.
With art, we know that we don’t always see the full effect of what we are doing until we are done. Kids are able to understand that it takes a process to come up with the end result.
This really benefits kids, as this world teaches them all about instant gratification but not the joys and worth of the process to get to the desired result and the satisfaction that brings.
2. Art enriches a child’s success in academics.
Don’t believe me? That’s OK, statistics are on my side in this one. There is a reason great minds like Aristotle and Einstein also dabbled in the arts.
Harvard released an article named The Arts and Academic Improvement: What the Evidence Shows by The National Arts Education Association regarding this very thing. It lists justifications for the arts in education and the proof of its benefits.
ArtsEdSearch.org (amongst other sources) sharts Arts for Academic Achievement: What Does Arts Integration Do for Students?
Research has found that student reading scores were reliably higher for students whose teachers integrated the arts into English/reading lessons.
However, as homeschoolers, we can see the benefits firsthand. Let’s continue:
3. Art exposes students to a variety of techniques and materials.
Kids will be using these techniques and materials (such as like glue, lines, paper, textures, color utensils, etc.) during the rest of their schooling,
4. Art, even in kindergarten, can expose them to famous artists and art history.
Exploring Great Artists: Complete Art Lesson Plans | NurtureStore
5. Kindergarten art exposure introduces students to art vocabulary.
6. Art presents experiences where young students can express themselves that other subjects like math and reading don’t provide.
7. Providing opportunities for kids to make open-ended art and drawings helps build creativity.
8. Do you all know what a growth mindset is? Art builds that.
A growth mindset is the idea that even our most basic abilities and capacity can be developed through dedication and hard work.
Yes, we have brains and talent, but a love for learning and resilience comes alongside a growth mindset ideal.
9. Art builds self-confidence in our students.
An art project has a beginning and end but in between are a whole lot of attempts, failures, and achievements that we just can’t deny.
Once a student completes an art project or a drawing, they have a sense of accomplishment, and that accomplishment results in a confident child.
10. Art helps a child communicate. I hope I explain this well.
Of course, kids can communicate through their drawings. We can tell a lot from the things they draw when we aren’t watching.
However, a few years back, my friend showed me how to use circle pictures (even with adults).
When our kids are going through things we can’t quite help them with straight away, we can sit with them and do circle pictures.
We tell them to draw three big circles on their paper. In those circles, tell them to start drawing whatever is in their heart or mind. When they are done, just ask your kids about it, one drawing in a circle at a time.
I was a skeptic at first, but once your kids start talking about their picture and you start asking them about it – like why they drew certain lines or used specific colors – kids just start talking.
It helps them open up because they are telling you about their picture – not directly telling you what’s on their heart and mind. It lets them talk about themselves in a more detached, third-party way, and you can learn so much about how they feel.
It is EPIC!
You should try circle pictures. I do have to warn you that sometimes kids get emotional.
Yet, once they are done kids feel soooo much better. Anyway, art can help with emotional intelligence and self-awareness/understanding as well.
There are so many ways to introduce art to your kids. To start, here are a few free art resources for kindergarten.
Help your kids learn the basics of art.
Color Mixing FREE Activity Pack | Totschooling
The Formal Elements of Art For Kids with FREE Printable Book | The Kitchen Table Classroom
Art Books For Kids- Teach The Elements of Art Through Books | The Kitchen Table Classroom
Lines of All Kinds for Kids | Kinder Art
Primary Color Hands for Kindergartners | Art is Basic
Kindergarten Line Painting Monsters | Elements of the Art Room
Paper Line Sculptures with Kindergarten | Art is Basic
Learning about Lines | Art is Basic
Types of Lines in Art Handout | Art is Basic
5 Fun Activities That Introduce The Art Basics to Kids | Homeschool 2 Unschool
Grab these free art lessons, curriculum, activities, resources, and free sites dedicated to art for kids.
Kinder Art Lessons | The Kitchen Table Classroom
100 FREE Online Art Lessons For Children | NurtureStore
Homeschool for FREE: Art | Amy’s Wandering
FREE Art Lessons on Youtube for Homeschoolers | Wander Homeschooling
12 Online Art Resources | We Are Teachers
Free Art Lessons for Kids | ArtAchieve
FREE Art Center Labels | Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources
Art & Music FREE Curriculum | Freedom Homeschooling
36 Elementary Art Lessons for Kids | Happiness Homemade
Arts and Crafts For Kids | How We Learn
Self Portraits For Kids- A Colorful Lesson In Drawing | The Kitchen Table Classroom
10 Creative Art Activities | Totschooling
FREE Easy Art Activities | Teaching Special Thinkers
Mosaic Creations | Art with Ms Y
Kindergarten Arts and Crafts Activities FREE Downloads | Education.com
Art For Children – 8 Skills For Success | Kindergarten-lessons.com
Teach your kids how to draw and practice drawing with these freebies.
Guided Drawing Activities That Incorporate History, Science, and More
Learn to Draw Activity | Simple Living Creative Learning
How to Draw a Butterfly: 6 Kid-Friendly Steps | Proud to be Primary
Free Art Lesson: The Czech Cat (with cross-curricular connections) | ArtAchieve
FREE Printable Symmetry Drawing for Kids | 123 Kids Fun
Summer (FREE) Drawing Prompts | Itsy Bitsy Fun
Draw and Apple Tree FREE Resource | Krogers Kindergarten
FREE Printable Scenery Drawing Prompts to Spark Kids’ Creativity | Artsy Craftsy Mom
25 Free and Easy Directed Drawing Activities Anyone Can Do | We Are Teachers
FREE Pets Drawing Prompt and Jobs Drawing Prompt | Crafts on Sea
How to Draw a Unicorn – Unicorn Directed Drawing for Kids (Video) | Bilingual Scrapbook
FREE Drawing Bugs Writing Activity | Royal Baloo
Self Portraits In Pen And Paint (Check Out The Background) | Rubber Boots and Elf Shoes
FREE Guided Drawing Book | Art is Basic
Ed Emberley’s FREE Drawing Pages
How to Draw Different Animals | Art Projects for Kids
Draw a Squishy Caterpillar | Art Projects for Kids
FREE A for Ant Directed Drawing | From the Pond
Kindergarten Self-Portraits | Georgetown Elementary Art Blog
Ready, Set, Draw: A FREE Printable Drawing Guide | Artful Parent
Check out these free art projects and process art resources.
Note: “Process art” is the method by which kids create and are allowed to explore art in open-ended and unstructured ways. They usually use various materials in the process art to create and use their imagination.
50 Kindergarten Art Projects to Spark Their Creativity | We Are Teachers
8 Process Art Projects | Project Kid
Cling Film Art | Arty Crafty Kids
Kaleidoscope Art Prints | The Craft Train
Process Art for Young Learners: Painting with Yarn | Buggy and Buddy
Ocean Process Art | Play to Learn Preschool
Five Senses Texture Collage Process Art | Modern Homestead Mama
How to Make Rainbow Lightning – Process Art for Kids | Taming Little Monsters
Sponge Painting Process Art | BusyToddler
Citrus Printing Process Art for Kids | Rhythms of Play
Splat Painting – Process Art Activity for Kids | Taming Little Monsters
50 Fun & Engaging Process Art Projects For Kids | Projects with Kids
Rainbow Marble Painting Process Art | Preschool Inspirations
Kindergarten Rocks – 25 Art Projects for 5-Year-Olds | Meri Cherry Art Studio
Create Your Own Field of Tulips Q-Tip Painting | Projects with Kids
Cool Handprint Art | Arty Crafty Kids
The Best Process Art for Kids | Cinta + Co.
Melted Crayon Art | Mum in the Mad House
Abstract Shape Collages | Art is Basic
30 Art Projects for Kindergarten | Kindergarten Worksheets and Games
16 Arts and Crafts Projects for Kindergartners | The Spruce Crafts
Allow your kids to explore art using chalk or paint.
Note: For you neat freak moms – you can do this too. Just throw a tarp on the floor or let kids create outside. It won’t kill you, and will make some awesome memories.
Chalk Pastel & Tempera Paint Portraits for Kinders | Deep Space Sparkle
Fizzy Art Baking Soda Paint | Typically Simple
Create Your Own Paint Brushes | Emma Owl
String Painting: A Beautiful Art Technique using Ink or Liquid Watercolors | One Little Project
Line Exploration With Oil Pastel And Watercolor | The Kitchen Table Classroom
Make This Cute Germ Blow Painting Art With Straws | Simple Everyday Mom
Kids’ Science: Oil and Watercolor Painting | Playdough to Plato
Water Gun Painting Art Project | Somewhat Simple
I can go on and on, but I just want to share how exposing kids to art at the kindergarten age can help them in so many ways without you even realizing it.