KidSparkz news blog, featuring new and free preschool resources

kindNess and kids

5/7/2023

Kindness is one of the most important values that we can instill in our children. It helps them develop empathy, compassion, and respect for others. But how can we teach kindness to very young children, who are still learning about themselves and the world around them?

Here are some activities that you can use to foster kindness in your classroom or at home.

Model kindness yourself. Children learn by observing and imitating adults, so make sure you are always polite, courteous, and helpful to others. Say please and thank you, apologize when you make a mistake, and offer to help someone in need. Show your children how to treat others with dignity and care.
Point out and praise kindness when you see it. When your children do something kind, such as sharing a toy, helping a friend, or giving a compliment, acknowledge and appreciate their behavior. Say things like "That was very kind of you", "You made her happy", or "I'm proud of you for being so thoughtful". This will reinforce their positive actions and encourage them to repeat them.
Read stories about kindness. There are many books that teach children about kindness, such as "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein, "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?" by Carol McCloud, or "The Rainbow Fish" by Marcus Pfister. Read these stories with your children and discuss the characters' actions and feelings. Ask questions like "How do you think he felt when he gave his apple?", "What did she do to fill her bucket?", or "Why did he share his scales?".
Do random acts of kindness. Make kindness a fun and spontaneous activity by doing random acts of kindness with your children. For example, you can bake cookies for your neighbors, write thank-you notes for your teachers, or donate toys to a charity. You can also create a kindness jar or a kindness calendar, where you write down different acts of kindness that you can do each day or week.
Teach empathy skills. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It is essential for developing kindness, as it helps children see things from another's perspective and respond with compassion. You can teach empathy skills by playing games that involve taking turns, listening, and expressing emotions. You can also use role-playing scenarios or puppets to help children practice empathy in different situations.

Download this set of 10 discussion posters/flashcards.

MORE TO SEE ...

The Kindness Bee
K is for Kindness alphabet coloring page
"We Can Be Kind" emergent reader to make

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CREATIVE ART TECHNIQUES - MISCELLANEOUS

2/8/2022

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THESE IDEAS CAN BE ADAPTED TO WORK WITH ANY THEME. CHANGE COLORS AND TEXTURES FOR DIFFERENT THEMES AND TOPICS

More creative art techniques for preschool

Crayon scratch art. Color hard with bright crayons on an index card. Have the color patches touch each other. Go over the entire colored area with a thick layer of black crayon. Then scratch into the black crayon work with a sharp object such as a toothpick of the end of a paper clip.

Crayon shaving and peeling. Rub the crayons on a coarse grater, or make shaving with a pencil sharpener. They can be sprinkled on glue, or ironed with a warm iron between 2 sheets of waxed paper. Needs adult help of course.

“Snowflake” art. Create lacy effects by cutting into folded thin sheets of paper. Fold circles, rectangles, squares, use shiny tissue, computer paper, coffee filters.

Experimenting with envelopes and scissors. Seal it and make bracelets, canoes, paper links – what else?

Back to Creative Art Techniques index
Indispensable Supplies
Activity Recipes
Techniques with Paint (20)
Techniques with Collage and Glue (15)
Drawing Techniques (6)
Techniques for Print Making (10)
Sculpting Techniques (3)
Construction Techniques (4)
Stitchery Techniques (8)
Miscellaneous Techniques (4)

MORE TO SEE ...

Theme-a-Pedia - hundreds of printables and activities organized by theme
Become a KidSparkz member and access a password-protected area of the site for $3.50 a month.
Toddler Curriculum - for ages 18 to 36 months (over 1600 pages)
Pre-K Themes Series - a collection of low-cost downloadable mini teaching topics/units that are focused towards preschool and pre-K learners.

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CREATIVE ART TECHNIQUES - USING STITCHERY

2/8/2022

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THESE CREATIVE STITCHERY IDEAS CAN BE ADAPTED TO WORK WITH ANY THEME. CHANGE COLORS AND TEXTURES FOR DIFFERENT THEMES AND TOPICS

Creative art techniques using sewing and weaving for preschool

Stringing packing peanuts, straws, round pasta, round cereal, paper shapes etc. String onto yarn, string, chenille pipe cleaners, tinsel, plastic lacing etc.

Sewing on rigid plastic mesh. Stitch with different colored and textured yarns, and a large needle.

Paper or foam weaving. Weave strips of paper or foam through a precut “loom”. Teacher cuts long slits in a piece of paper or foam. This can be more directed as the children are older.

Burlap stitchery. Colorful burlap can be held rigid in an embroidery hoop. Use yarn, and an easily threaded metal needle.

Nature weaving. To prepare a loom, cut small triangles across the top and bottom of a piece of heavy cardboard. Wind yarn around and around through the triangles to make the “warp”. Children weave in twigs, leaves, grasses, feathers, flowers, textured yarn, chenille pipe cleaners, etc. Decorator fishing net can also be used.

Weave plastic tipped strings through holes punched in construction paper.

Bead stringing – the possibilities are endless.

Free form weaving. Cut small slits in a circle or square piece of cardboard. Children weave yarn in and out and around in all directions.

MORE TO SEE ...

Theme-a-Pedia - hundreds of printables and activities organized by theme
Become a KidSparkz member and access a password-protected area of the site for $3.50 a month.
Toddler Curriculum - for ages 18 to 36 months (over 1600 pages)
Pre-K Themes Series - a collection of low-cost downloadable mini teaching topics/units that are focused towards preschool and pre-K learners.

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CREATIVE ART TECHNIQUES USING SCULPTING AND CONSTRUCTION

2/8/2022

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THESE CREATIVE SCULPTING AND CONSTRUCTION IDEAS CAN BE ADAPTED TO WORK WITH ANY THEME. CHANGE COLORS AND TEXTURES FOR DIFFERENT THEMES AND TOPICS

Sculpting

Use playdoh, clay, plasticine, Model Magic etc with just fingers, or with tools such as cookie cutters, rollers, small toys, plastic knives.

Sculptures to save – create the art piece and add chenille pipe cleaners, toothpicks, cut-up straws, jewels, etc. Let air dry.

Press a piece of playdoh or clay flat, then press 3 dimensional materials into it to create a mosaic effect.

Construction

Connect craft sticks with pieces of tape. Use plain or colored sticks with plain or colored tape. Can add markers, stickers, Styrofoam bit etc.

Use a chunk of Styrofoam for a base, and stick objects into it, e.g. chenille pipe cleaners, tooth picks, add paper flags etc.

Construct with all kinds of recyclables such as paper towel tubes, boxes, tape, markers and scissors.

Constructing with foil. Roll, squeeze, pull, attach foil pieces together with tape.

MORE TO SEE ...

Theme-a-Pedia - hundreds of printables and activities organized by theme
Become a KidSparkz member and access a password-protected area of the site for $3.50 a month.
Toddler Curriculum - for ages 18 to 36 months (over 1600 pages)
Pre-K Themes Series - a collection of low-cost downloadable mini teaching topics/units that are focused towards preschool and pre-K learners.

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CREATIVE ART TECHNIQUES - USING PRINT MAKING

2/8/2022

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MANY OF THESE CREATIVE PRINT MAKING IDEAS CAN BE ADAPTED TO WORK WITH ANY THEME. CHANGE COLORS AND TEXTURES FOR DIFFERENT THEMES AND TOPICS

Creative art techniques using print making for preschool

Styrofoam printing – scratch a design in Styrofoam with a toothpick or scissors. Color over the scratched surface with markers or paint. Press a piece of paper on the colored area.

Vegetable printing – use fruit and vegetables past their prime. Use potatoes, apples, squeezed citrus, cornhusks, carrot circles, onion, green pepper, onion. Press onto a sponge with tempera spread on it, or a folded paper towel with tempera. Wipe off excess paint.

Fish printing. Use a whole fish that isn’t needed for food. Use a brush to paint thick tempera on one side. Wipe off excess. Place the paper over it and press, smooth it.

Crayon rubbing – lot of variations. Tape stencils or natural objects such as leaves to the back of a piece of lightweight paper. Turn it over and rub the side of crayons over the paper to make the texture pattern appear. Blend colors.

Prints with finger-paint. Finger-paint on a laminated table surface, place a piece of paper on top of the finger-paint, and slowly peel it up. Vary it by dripping food coloring onto the paint area.

Bubble prints – place a little water, some Joy liquid soap, and a coloring agent (e.g. food coloring, powdered tempera) in a bowl. Blow into mixture gently through a straw to produce a mound of bubbles. Press lightweight paper down on the bubble mound to capture the print.

Tool printing. All kinds of washable tools – potato masher, whisk, strainer, fork, spoon, cookie cutters, paper cups, glasses, nuts and bolts – be creative!! Use tempera in a paper bowl or plate or spread on a paper towel. Sprinkle glitter on the prints if you wish.

Fingertip printing and handprints. Press fingertip on inked stamp pad, or thin layer of tempera. Press all over the paper. Change colors. After it is dry, extras can be added with markers or pencils. Make insects, “footprints”, a pathway etc.

Printing with hands and feet. Paint your own, or have some else do it. This is messy, of course. Don’t do it if you’re ticklish!

Block printing – use any blocks that are washable, such as Duplos and Bristle blocks. Put a little soap in the tempera to make cleanup easier.

MORE TO SEE ...

Theme-a-Pedia - hundreds of printables and activities organized by theme
Become a KidSparkz member and access a password-protected area of the site for $3.50 a month.
Toddler Curriculum - for ages 18 to 36 months (over 1600 pages)
Pre-K Themes Series - a collection of low-cost downloadable mini teaching topics/units that are focused towards preschool and pre-K learners.

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kindNess and kids

CREATIVE ART TECHNIQUES - MISCELLANEOUS

CREATIVE ART TECHNIQUES - USING STITCHERY

CREATIVE ART TECHNIQUES USING SCULPTING AND CONSTRUCTION

CREATIVE ART TECHNIQUES - USING PRINT MAKING

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kindNess and kids

CREATIVE ART TECHNIQUES​ - MISCELLANEOUS

CREATIVE ART TECHNIQUES​ - USING STITCHERY

CREATIVE ART TECHNIQUES​ USING SCULPTING AND CONSTRUCTION

CREATIVE ART TECHNIQUES​ - USING PRINT MAKING

Categories

USEFUL LINKS

MY ACCOUNT

SITE INFO

CREATIVE ART TECHNIQUES - MISCELLANEOUS

CREATIVE ART TECHNIQUES - USING STITCHERY

CREATIVE ART TECHNIQUES USING SCULPTING AND CONSTRUCTION

CREATIVE ART TECHNIQUES - USING PRINT MAKING