Create a Learning Center for Preschool Art & Creativity

Preschool Art and Creativity Learning Center Guide

Creating a space for art in your early learning program will provide many opportunities for preschoolers to explore their creativity and develop artistic skill. In the Art Space, even the youngest child can learn to appreciate the beautiful designs, textures and colors that are found in art, Children will begin to develop new language that describes art, as well as explore new art processes, mediums, and tools. 

In this Guide  you will find:

Benefits of a Dedicated Preschool Art & Creativity Space
Things to consider before you set up your space
Essential Components of a Preschool Art and Learning Center
Defining your Preschool Art & Creativity Learning Center Space
​Suggested Materials & Supplies
Tips for Organizing & Storing Arts & Crafts Materials and Supplies
Tips for Creating an Outdoor Art Space
Creating a Space to display and celebrate Art
​Talking to Children about their Art
​Tips for Managing the Space

​Benefits of a Dedicated Preschool Art and Creativity Space

A dedicated art space provides many opportunities for children to develop important early learning skills. 

1. Stimulates Imagination: A designated art space encourages children to explore their imaginations freely, leading to enhanced creativity and self-expression.
2. Develops Fine Motor Skills: Engaging in art activities involves hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, promoting physical dexterity in young learners.
3. Cultivates Confidence: Completing art projects independently instills a sense of accomplishment, boosting a child's self-esteem and confidence.
4. Encourages Language Development: Art provides an avenue for children to express themselves verbally, aiding in language development and communication skills.

Things to consider before you set up your Space:

Before you set up a learning center, you'll want to first determine how much space you are dedicating the area. Are you creating an intimate space for just 1-2 children to gather? Or a place for the whole group? Whether you are utilizing a portable space or have a large dedicated space for art we have you covered with inspiring ideas for a variety of spaces.

Essential Components of a Preschool Art and Learning Center:

1. Organizational Storage: Keep art supplies organized and easily accessible with labeled containers or bins. This promotes independence and allows children to take charge of their creativity.
2. Kid-Friendly Furniture: Choose age-appropriate tables and chairs that allow children to comfortably engage in art projects. Ensure surfaces are easy to clean for inevitable creative messes.
   
3. Art Supplies: Stock up on a variety of art materials, including crayons, markers, colored pencils, glue, child-safe scissors, paint, brushes, and paper. Rotate materials regularly to keep activities fresh and exciting.
4. Display Area: Dedicate a space to showcase children's artwork. Displaying their creations not only boosts their confidence but also serves as a visual celebration of their accomplishments.
5. Inspiring Decor: Decorate the space with vibrant colors, images of famous artworks, and inspirational quotes to create a visually stimulating and engaging atmosphere.

Defining your Preschool Art & Crafts Learning Center Space

If you are creating a dedicated art space, consider a shelf or storage unit to hold your materials. Use easy to access containers such as open containers, easy to open drawers, and baskets to store your items. When dealing with a mixed age group, provide materials that can be used independently, and store more advanced materials on a higher shelf if needed. Consider placing it near a hand washing area for ease of cleanup.

The Art Space at Ronnie's Dayhome

If you don't have a lot of space to dedicate to a separate art space, consider a portable option. A cart can be stocked with a variety of materials and rolled out of the room.  A caddy of art materials can be placed on an existing table.

Credit: A Montessori Home Daycare

Provide children with a variety of safe art materials that are accessible to them on a daily basis. In addition to creating original works of art, children are learning how to use new art materials and learning new processes for creating art. Provide a variety of opportunities for painting, drawing, collage, and sculpture. 

Art Space shared by Mud Pies and Butterflies

In addition to creating Art on Horizontal surfaces, provide opportunities for making artwork on vertical surfaces such as easels, and walls. Easels can be hung on walls, or you can invest in table top easels if you are short on space.

The Art Space at Picasso's Playhouse

For home-based learning programs a garage space is perfect for an art space! Patty T shared her art space, her presentation of materials and inviting space to create are so inspiring!

Patty T Art Space

Carmen Diaz shared this space. Love the easy access art smocks on the side! Providing crayons for children to create art vertically is a super workout for little hands!

When children paint vertically it supports more than creativity, it also supports muscle development! Before children can learn proper pencil grip they need to develop essential arm muscles, painting vertically is a great workout for preschoolers!

Connir O shared this amazing art studio! So many fun opportunities to create! Love how the smocks are stored right at the entrance!

Connir O Art Studio

Suggested Materials & Supplies

Provide a variety of materials for drawing, painting, and collage. Provide new opportunities for children to experiment with art supplies. Incorporate materials that allow younger children to create art independently such as buying larger handled paintbrushes, and crayons that are are easier for small hands to hold.

Must-Have Art Supplies:

• Crayons
• Markers
• Colored Pencils
• Glue Sticks
• Child-Safe Scissors
• Tempera Paints
• Paintbrushes
• Construction Paper
• Playdough

Outdoor Art Supplies:

• Sidewalk Chalk
• Watercolor Paints
• Nature Items (leaves, twigs, etc.)
• Large Easel
• Spray Bottles for Water Art

Tips for Storing & Organizing Art & Craft Materials and Supplies

A simple shelf is great for a more permanent space to provide art supplies for your young artists.

​Tasha H. shared this photo, I love how she has a nice variety including a stack of variety paper for preschoolers to choose from.

Those rolling carts sure come in handy for a variety of purposes! Use one for bringing out art supplies for your preschoolers to easily access.
This method is also great for mixed age programs!

Photo Credit: Learning Ladder Art Cart

If you don't have a dedicated childcare space in your home, consider dedicating a cupboard, or a hutch to your hold your art supplies.

More tips for creating learning spaces in your home

Kyleen S shared some of her art space organizing ideas. The children can stand while creating and have easy access to plastic drawers and materials hung vertically. 

Sweetpea Dayhome stores her art materials in a variety of aways including craft carts, and IKEA trofast bins.

Art Space shared by A Montessori Home Daycare

A Montessori Dayhome shared how they display their art materials. They have arranged their art supplies in visually appealing color-coordinated containers, which combined with the display of natural materials creates an inspiring space to create.

Dawn's Daycare shared her art space, she provides a wonderful variety of materials  for children to create with, including recyclables!

Dawn's Daycare Art Space

---

Tips for Creating an Outdoor Art Space

If your indoor space is limited, consider creating an outdoor art space! You can add an outdoor chalkboard, or attach some simple clips (to hold paper) to a fence.
See some more photos of outdoor art spaces here!

Building Blocks Family Childcare created an outdoor art studio for their preschoolers! The fence is a perfect place for storing art materials and hanging pieces to dry.

Cradles and Crayons created this wonderful clear easel for children to paint on while outdoors

Easel from Cradles and Crayons

Hanging a chalkboard outside is a great way for children to draw what they are inspired by while outdoors. Love how Melissa D repurposed a mailbox for holding the chalk!

This 4-sided outdoor easel is perfect for creating outdoors! The hangers on the inside for hanging pieces to dry are a great addition!

Love this setup shared by Open Hearts Helping Hands Daycare, a wonderful space for multiple children to create! This would be a great space for creating one large piece of art as well.

Patty T included easels in her setup, love these easy wash easels!

---

Create a space to display & celebrate art

Create a space to celebrate the children's art. You can use a bulletin board, hang the art using clothespins, create individual frames, use clipboards, or even use the side of your refrigerator to display their great creations!

Love how Kimberly P utilizes large clipboards for children's art! These make it super easy to swap out art!

Having a dedicated place for displaying and drying arts & crafts is essential in early learning programs. Consider attaching vinyl pockets to the wall that allow you easily swap out art.

How about an art show? Invite families and even your community to an annual art show! celebrate their works of art, and use the opportunity to educate adults about the educational process of creating art. Putting on a community art show is also a great opportunity to advertise your program. ​Pumpkin Patch shared this beautiful display! What a wonderful way to showcase children's art.

The art space at Imagination Childcare

---

Talk to children about their art

• Discuss the materials they used the  "I see you used scissors to cut up this tissue paper, and glue to attach it to the paper
• Discuss what it looks like "I see you made long lines with your blue paint"
• Have children describe their art, and document it on the back or in a journal, "Tell me about your Art"
• Ask them questions about the process "How did you mix the paint to get that color?"
  

Tips for Managing the Space

Use sticky notes to write down what children say about their art. When on display this will give adults a view into what the artist had in mind while creating and is also an excellent addition to a child's portfolio.

When it comes to creating learning spaces, many educators struggle with how they can manage the space, here are a few tips:
1. Children in this space are learning how to use new tools. As with any new tool this will take modeling, re-direction and patience. You will need to model (while at the same time allowing children to explore) how to appropriately use these new tools. This means how much paint to use, discuss where in the room we use our tools, and how much glue to use.
2. You do not need to set out all of the items at once for free art. Choose a few items that are safest for even the youngest mobile children to explore independently and rotate the items often. Example:  markers and paper, crayons and stencils, clay and cookie cutters, Stickers and Textured Paper etc.
3. Create a space for older children to explore items individually. Provide older children with their own space to explore more advanced materials. Find opportunities throughout the day (such as times when younger children are napping) were older children can explore new mediums. Whenever possible shadow the younger children, while allowing the older children to be more independent.
4. Safe doesn't mean clean. Art is going to be messy. There are many ways you can prepare so that you can limit the mess and keep it manageable for your group.

---

More posts you might enjoy:

20+ ways to introduce process art in your childcare program

Preschool Art and Creativity Ideas