The number one furniture item for kids art space is a table. Credit Maria Montessori with introducing child-sized furniture into learning environments. The concept gives kids more access to learning materials and greater opportunities to explore. Plus, having a table specifically for your kids means you’re less likely to find marker streaks across the heirloom dining room table. Here are five kids art tables with storage ideas that will give your kids space for their creativity to bloom. This post contains affiliate links. Five Kids Art Tables With Storage Aspen Table & 4 Chairs Set This high-quality birch wood table and set of 4 chairs in a durable clear finish adds a fun touch to any play area. Table measures 23-1/2″L x 23-1/2″W x 19″H Chair measures 12-1/2″L x 11-3/4″W x 21-3/4″H with an 11″H seat Assembly required Star Table and Chair Set with Bins Perfectly proportioned and kid-sized, the natural wood rectangular table has built-in storage bins in blue, green, red, and yellow. Bins are conveniently tilted for easy access and are easy to reach from either end of the table. Two chairs are finished in a combination of natural wood and red and blue lacquer. Table and chairs have whimsical star cutouts. Table is 30 1/4″L x 22 1/4″W x 20 1/4″H Chairs are 12″L x 11 3/4″W x 20 1/4″H and seat is 11″H Assembly required Our Spot Table & Chair Set (this is the table I used with my girls) The unique “x” leg design provides great stability. High quality and …

I have been a fan of Kid Made Modern for years and love their mission to create the next generation of creative thinkers. Here are some of the fantastic products they’re offering to make your family’s world even more colorful. FYI affiliate links are used in this post. Kid Made Modern Art Supplies 1) Tired of kiddos running off with your paper for their latest masterpiece? Set them up with Studio in a Box. It has canvas boards, watercolor paper, mixed paper and more. You can also pick up some plain paper Artist Pads (48 sheets). 2) Do you have paintbrushes that suffered a sad fate because someone forgot to wash them? Consider the Brush Library. There is also a Washable Paint Set (set of 12) that includes brushes and paper. 3) Up your craft stash with the Arts and Crafts Supply Library or Rainbow Craft Kit. For youngest crafters, consider My First Arts and Crafts Library. 4) Are the crayons the way to your kiddo’s heart? Then she’ll love some Giant Crazy Crayons, Confetti Crayons or a Crayon Gem. I am also a fan of the Gem Jackpot Crayons. 5) If you have an aspiring jeweler in the household there are several kits, including Mystic Jewelry Kit, Petal Party Jewelry Making Kit and Rock Star Jewelry Making Kit. Kids Made Modern also has free projects on their Go Make Stuff Blog. Kid Made Modern Free Activities and Printouts: Cardboard Rainbow Craft Gratitude Letter Coloring Sheet Unicorn Crown – Free Printout DIY Cardboard Rocket Ships Printable Happy Birthday Poster DIY Happy creating …

Acclaimed actress Angela Bassett is joining her colleagues as a reader for Storyline Online. The platform streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations. Bassett is bringing to life the true story of New Orleans musician Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews in Trombone Shorty. Written by Andrews and illustrated by Bryan Collier, this vibrant 2016 Caldecott Honor book is a tale of music, cuisine, culture and family. “Some of the kids that read my book don’t even realize that I’m a real person. They see themselves in these characters that are their age, and then when they see me perform live, they can’t believe I’m the same person as the kid in the book,” Andrews explains. “I’m very proud of the book, it’s a personal story about coming up as a young musician playing in New Orleans, and I wanted to reach kids. One of the best rewards is when a kid comes up to me after a show and says they play trombone because they read my book. It’s great when it all comes full circle like that because it shows that music and following your heart can lead you to so many of the places you dream of.” In 2013, Andrews founded The Trombone Shorty Foundation whose mission is to transform young lives through the power of music while also passing down the unique musical culture of New Orleans to the next generation. Why Angela Bassett Chose the Book Bassett chose the book because it shows how the talent and perseverance of …

Is your family suffering from stressful vibes? Have everyone sit down to create art using one or several of the drawing prompts below. Prompts let creativity run wild and family members will enjoy seeing what each other comes up with. Take it one step further with having kiddos make a new list of prompts to work from in the future. 10 Drawing Prompts  Water Slide Comet Snow Globe Robot Tacos Field of wildflowers Roller Coaster Bird’s Nest Party Hat Something from the future If you have sidewalk chalk, consider taking this activity outside. Need more convincing? A 2020 article from NPR discusses how art helps the brain. It also has this quote from Dr. Girija Kaimal, a professor at Drexel University and a researcher in art therapy: “Anything that engages your creative mind — the ability to make connections between unrelated things and imagine new ways to communicate — is good for you.” Additionally, Dr. Kaimal shares there’s evidence making art can lower stress and anxiety. Free Printable Challenge Challenge yourself  and family with this free Girls That Create printable! Click to download Free Printable Challenge Things you should know before downloading: Girls That Create printables are for PERSONAL USE ONLY You may NOT modify, re-sell, redistribute, or claim the design as your own If you’d like to share this project, credit must be given to Girls That Create and linked back to this post Drawing Supplies Below are links to Kid Made Modern products. Since 2012 they have been making items designed to inspire …

When I moved to Dallas a trusted friend recommended the radio program Think. Hosted by acclaimed journalist Krys Boyd, the show brings on guests to have thought-provoking, deep conversations about history, current events, science, entertainment and more. Here is a list of Think podcast episodes focusing on the arts. Think is produced by KERA (North Texas’ PBS and NPR member station) and is now among the most-downloaded local podcasts in the public radio system. Think Podcast Episodes Focusing on the Arts Think Episodes Development The Psychological Effects Of Art: Boyd talks with an art educator about how art promotes brain development in children, a psychologist about how we perceive and respond to art, and a professor studying how art can be used to treat PTSD. Mental Gymnastics: New Insights Into The Brain: Boyd spends the hour talking with experts on brain science to separate fact from fiction – and to better understand what we know about gender, creativity and how our brain is programmed to lead us home. Why Kids Draw – And Why They Stop: Drawing is one of the first artistic experiences that many children will have. Arts educator Marilyn JS Goodman joins Boyd to talk about how drawing evolves as kids develop mentally and physically. Please Touch This Art: Raising a son with a language disorder pushed Sarah Schleuning to reconsider how visitors to a museum might react to exhibits. She joins Boyd to talk about the exhibit she curated, which features site-specific works that encourage the use of multiple senses. Don’t Force Your Kid to Be …

Often creatives love coloring outside the lines. Other times there’s a sense of calmness that comes from staying within them. Whichever mood your girl is in, here are seven unique coloring books to share with her. And remember, it never hurts to have coloring as an option when it’s time to shut off screens. Seven Unique Coloring Books  Zolocolor! 96 pages of shapes, googly eyes, and more; all waiting for coloring inside, out, around, and over the lines. Edie Harper Coloring Book This book contains 20 of Edie Harper’s paintings. Kiddos can imitate the color schemes Harper chose for her final works or create entirely new ones.   Jungle Paradise You will find both popular jungle animals and beautiful nature quotes throughout this book’s pages. The Art Coloring Book Dozens of painters can be found in this coloring book, which also has white space for new works of art. The Night Voyage On the eve of her birthday a girl goes on a magical journey to distribute gifts around the globe. Although The Night Voyage is categorized as adult, I think an older child (over eight) who loves coloring will be swept away by its beautiful pages. The Coloring Book This book motivates readers to use colors imaginatively. It also makes them to think creatively as they respond to unique challenges on every page. Color with Mom: A Coloring Book to Share For those who want to settle down side-by-side with their child for some coloring. Each part contains two images of the same theme, like fresh fruits and frozen treats. …

This week I attended an advance screening of the new Little Women film. Greta Gerwig wrote and directed this 2019 adaption of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel (warning, if you haven’t read the book or seen one of the previous Little Women films, SPOILERS). What sets Gerwig’s movie apart from others is viewers no longer follow the story of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy in chronological order. Instead we see chapters intertwined in a new outline with flashbacks. This storytelling method works and the acting is spot-on for the entire cast. Powerful Themes in Little Women Understanding: This film beautifully captures Marmee’s complete acceptance of her girls. The March sisters have extremely different personalities. Marmee tailors her parenting so that each always feels secure and loved. Even with old Aunt March offering tsk-tsk judgments on the sidelines, Marmee does not demand her girls ignore their true nature. As a result each girl flourishes. For Marmee, the most important thing is for her girls to have strong morals and character that act as their compass throughout life. Intuition: There have been countless debates on whether or not Amy and Laurie should end up together. This film does not shy away from the magnetic relationship that is Jo and Laurie, but it also does a great job of helping the viewer understand why he comes to love Amy romantically. The script and Florence Pugh, who plays Amy, brought a depth to the role I had not seen before. Speaking of scenes, the SCENE where Jo breaks Laurie’s heart is …

Ever since reading the The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I always found the idea that a simple wardrobe could be an entryway to another world fascinating. Imagine my delight when my oldest daughter and I saw a travel show snippet about a fantastical slide whose entry point began in a laundry room dryer. At the bottom of that slide was a world unlike any we’d ever seen. The woman who slid down shared she was at Meow Wolf, located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. My daughter looked at me and said with 100 percent assurance, “We are SO going there”. This month her wish came true. What Exactly is Meow Wolf? First, you need to understand the Santa Fe location is just one chapter in the Meow Wolf story. Meow Wolf started in 2008 as a small collective of artists who could not find their way into the “traditional” art world. At their very first meeting everyone put two words into a hat. They then picked two random words out and got “Meow Wolf.” The group’s goal was to create immersive, multimedia experiences that transport audiences of all ages into fantastic realms of storytelling. Through many ups and downs (well captured in the documentary Meow Wolf: Origin Story), these determined artists brought several brilliant exhibitions to life on their own terms. Then, with the help of longtime Santa Fe resident George R.R. Martin, Meow Wolf took over a vacant former bowling alley, transforming it into a multi-use art complex. House of Eternal Return  Today Meow Wolf Santa Fe …

If you’re a fan of the classic novel Little Women, 2019 is a very good year. Writer-director Greta Gerwig is returning to the big screen with her adaption of the beloved coming-of-age story. We’ll have to wait till December for the film, but a new cookbook lets readers bring the world of Little Women to their tables. Food writer and editor Wini Moranville has put together 50 easy-to-make recipes, all updated for the modern kitchen. The Little Women Cookbook: Tempting Recipes from the March Sisters and Their Friends and Family contains recipes inspired by specific dishes mentioned among the novel’s pages. These include Buckwheat Pancakes, Milk-Toast, Apple Orchard Chicken, Gingerbread, and more. There are also full-color photos, fun and uplifting quotes from Little Women, and anecdotes about Louisa May Alcott (the novel’s author). Harvard Common Press, publisher of the cookbook, was kind enough to share two recipes straight from the pages with Girls That Create readers: A Better Omelet for Marmee Makes 1 omelet (repeat the recipe for as many omelets as you would like to make) The boiled tea was very bitter, the omelet was scorched, and the biscuits speckled with saleratus, but Mrs. March received her repast with thanks and laughed heartily over it after Jo was gone. One morning in June, bored after a few long days of too much time on their hands, Meg and Jo make breakfast for their mother. Sadly, things don’t go quite as they might have hoped for in the kitchen. Follow this foolproof recipe, however, and you’ll …

With every political or social movement, a specific accessory emerges. Often fastened to jackets, blouses, bags, and even shoes, I am, of course, talking about buttons. Since the country’s beginning, these adornments have been part of the United States’ scenery. During the first presidential inauguration, George Washington’s supporters wore copper buttons with his initials in the center. A chain surrounding the button’s rim had links representing each of the original thirteen states. Just a few words or a simple image can convey a powerful message. Supporters of the woman suffrage movement wore buttons to express their belief that women deserved the right to vote. When 168 women suffragists were released from jail in 1917 for picketing the White House, they each received a Jailed for Freedom pin. During her tenure as Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright famously wore pins to express opinions when meeting with members of government at home and abroad. On good days she wore flowers or butterflies; on bad days, bugs and carnivorous animals. How to Make Your Powerful Button Sit down with the girl(s) in your life and create your own buttons. Purchase a kit of snap-together craft buttons. Get out markers, pens, crayons, scissors, and a couple of cardstock pieces. Discuss the details chosen for the designs (colors, images, wording, placement). What messages do you each hope the buttons communicate? What are the meanings behind the chosen symbols? Turn your drawings into memorable button keepsakes.  Resources About Powerful Buttons The Busy Beaver Button Museum has put together an online publication …