Children are like sponges, soaking up everything and everyone around them. We can teach them by being their mentors...we can be there to answer the peculiar questions like, "Are tree's afraid of heights?" We can provide the answers and let them know they can always ask questions of us. By interacting with the little ones around us we can teach them how to look for new ideas in places that others may take for granted. Showing them that our imaginations are full of possibilities are wonderful places to explore. Here are a few great links to articles on children and creativity that you might find helpful. We found then a really good read and encourage you to take a look at them.

• Creative Play helps Children Grow
• Good Times being Creative
• Sensory Awareness

‘Creative’ time...

Gaby Hunter knows first hand the enjoyment of sharing ‘creative’ time with her granddaughter. Making clay figures is a wonderful way to spend quality time with the special youngsters in your life. It is important to know and understand this DVD below is not designed for children to work on their own without an adult. It is designed for adult artists. However, the adult can engage the youngster to help with the initial molding techniques required for the gourd figures.

• Skill Level - The recommended age group to work with these gourd figures is 8 years of age.
• Adult supervision is necessary at all times.
• It is recommended that the adult does all the painting steps and that interaction be limited to the clay techniques.

Youngsters enjoy playing with clay, so this is an excellent exercise to stimulate the creative aspects of play between adult and child.

	Look for this DVD in the Art Apprentice Online Store
Working with your hands... “I have always enjoyed working with my hands and when I discovered that I could combine clay with painting; this made it even more enjoyable for me!” say Gaby Hunter, “I’d like to share my techniques with you and explain how to work with both clay and paint media.” These whimsical characters come to life before your very eyes! Join Gaby for two fun filled hours and watch as she molds clay into these adorable figures. Santa and his tiny elves are hand shaped and built around the supporting gourd bodies. Watch as Gaby constructs and dresses each hand molded figure, learn her secrets as she paints their holiday outfits and turns clay into these little works of art!