PRACTICAL INFORMATION
We have some rules to help us get the most out of the sessions. When you come to our classes, you accept these rules.
Please read them, and if you have any questions or suggestions, let us know before you begin.
GOLDEN RULE: Play safe. You have to be with your son all the time. Parents are responsible for the safety of their children during the session. To keep your child creative and comfortable, supervise from a close distance, but let them take the lead.
All the materials we work with are carefully selected, non-toxic products designed for children, and we take care that each activity is age appropriate. However, young children tend to put things in their mouths and may be allergic or react badly to some of the ingredients. It's up to you to choose which play stations and which materials are safe to use. Check with the session leader if you are unsure about any of the materials provided.
This is a session to feel and express yourself, your child will play with paint. Kids (and parents!) should wear something comfortable so they can freely experiment with the beautiful materials without fear of getting dirty. An old t-shirt is the perfect alternative.
Please bring things to help your child wash up after the session (wipes, tissues, etc.) as these are not included in the workshop). All of our paint is washable, but it can stain depending on the type of fabric and when you wash it. Therefore, we insist on bringing exclusive clothing for this activity.
When they are done at a station, encourage your little one to put the materials and tools in the right place, ready for the next child and to make the room nice and safe for everyone. We must teach habits of fun and order.
We do something in each session to take home, please identify it with your name and take it with you home every week
in all activities we take photos and videos as part of the documentation of the process and also to share them on the social network and the My Little Van Gogh website. We always make respectful use of images and the focus is on your hands and the work you are doing.
Please let me know before the session begins if you would prefer your child not to be in the documented material.
HOW TO ACCOMPANY YOUR LITTLE ONE?
The activities in the atelier are designed so that the child is as independent as possible. Your child has his own ideas and will learn best when he is free to try them out for himself.
The more you participate and enjoy the activity, the more your child will have fun and learn. Remember that you are the role model for your child.
Join the learning process with your child. Try to see the materials through their eyes. Create, play and get dirty, but let your child be the one who makes the decisions, following their rhythm and interests.
It is common for babies and toddlers to wander and explore the room. Don't worry if your child isn't participating in the way you'd hoped, that's totally fine. If your child wants to observe first, let him stand and observe for a bit while he gets used to the environment. So even if your child chooses to watch for a while, they are still learning.
Some children may fear new sensations; be sensitive to this. Allow your child to work within their own comfort zone.
Let your child enjoy the sensory experience and emotional pleasure of simply playing freely. Remember that most of the time they will not be painting to create a masterpiece, they will simply be painting to explore the fun of painting.
Let them work on an activity for as long as they want. It is much better to do an activity over and over again than to rush to play in all the seasons. Repetition is how we all learn.
During the exploration, help him build his vocabulary by using descriptive and action words, such as cold, hot, full, shiny, smooth, pour, knead, flatten, splash.
Ask open-ended questions, for example, "I wonder what would happen if I added more water." Such comments draw the child's attention to the possibilities of exploration without pressuring them to find the correct answer.
When you talk to your little artist about his masterpiece, let him tell you about his artwork first, but don't ask "what's that?" either automatically say "I love it", maybe he/she wants to express something else.
Encourage the process with questions like... "If you could add something to your artwork, what would you add?", "If this artwork could talk, what would it say?", "What title would you give it to this piece?"
Comment on lines, colors, materials, textures, etc. they're using ("I see you're making a lot of purple dots", "I like how the red paint is mixing with the yellow paint").