The Artful Parent
Simple Ways to Fill Your Family's Life with Art and Creativity
Jean Van’t Hul’s The Artful Parent is a how-to manual for purposeful parents who want to incorporate more art into family life. Sprinkled with essays by additional contributors, The Artful Parent offers the lowdown on making time for art with kids, setting up an age-appropriate indoor art space (or outdoor, if weather permits), making basic supplies, as well as a philosophy for discussing children’s art in such a way as to empower children to keep exploring, experimenting, and creating. The latter half of the book outlines specific art activities (with age suggestions), including “Quick and Easy Art,” “Getting Fancy,” and “Action Art,” all of which are sure to be kid-pleasers.
Van’t Hul, a parent of two small children, started blogging her art ideas before they became a book and seems to understand the time and space crunches most families experience, as well as the energy required of parents to proactively offer art to young children (one mess after another!). She prepares the reader with simple ideas for minimizing mess and disorganization. Readers who gravitate toward organization will also be pleased with the ideas and resources offered at the back of the book.
Reviewed by
Heather Weber
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
