Our Favorite Reggio-Inspired Art Materials and Why They Work So Well

What is Art? What is Reggio-Inspired Art?

Art in a nutshell is a beautiful creative experience that encourages investigation and experimentation.

Reggio-Inspired Art is full of open ended experiences with a multitude of materials. It is often times not so much focused on the end result as it is on the process of creating.

As an artist myself, I am very sensitive to the fact that I never want to pigeon hole my children and strong arm them into creating in a particular way or creating at all for that matter. So, in order to make ART and not "art projects" these are the types of materials I gravitate towards. And this is how I invite my kids to use them to express their creativity however and whenever inspiration strikes.

A SPACE TO CREATE

I carved out a tiny space dedicated to creating in our dining room. It consists of a couple of kid sized chairs, an old beat up coffee table with a shelf underneath, and a cork board for displaying work. At this table I leave out a certain number of key materials every day. This area is accessible to the kids all the time, so they never feel the need to ask an adult whether or not they can "make something". They simply wander over to the table, sit down, and start making art whenever they feel like it.

Having a space just for them and materials that are fully accessible provides a sense of independence and freedom that naturally encourages investigation and experimentation.

No matter how small or large a space you can make available, carve out an area and you will see major changes in the way your child creates.

And now for the materials...

Reggio-Inspired Art supplies should be in the same arena as loose parts. They should spark the imagination, make kids curious, and not have a pre-determined outcome.

Here are the materials we always have on hand and why they work so well.

PAPER

Under the coffee table / art table I keep a bin with various sizes, weights, and colors of paper. I pick up cheaper pads of paper at discount stores and sometimes splurge on thicker grained paper at art stores. I find odds and ends all the time from my own art making as well that I throw in the bin.

I've found that having different sizes really helps the kids find their voice. For instance they might grab an index sized piece of paper and make "secret" images that they tape around the house for people to find and be surprised by! Or some days they go for a large sheet because they want to map something out or create large marks on. They get to choose but sometimes I will intentionally leave out certain sizes the night before just to see what happens...

COLORED PENCILS

Now, I'm going to say that following along with the Reggio-Inspired Approach to creating ART, a variety of materials also means some higher quality ones. Have you ever purchased a pack of crayons from the dollar store only to realize that they barely leave a mark on the page without breaking in two? There is a reason why artists invest in their materials.

This is not to say that you need to break the bank here but with colored pencils I would suggest going to an art store and getting a decent set. They are much richer colors, easier to apply, and that is exactly what your kids are looking for. EASY to use and VISIBLE results!

CHALK and OIL PASTELS

While you are at the art store, you may also want to invest in a few different colors of chalk and oil pastels. If you want to buy a whole pack of each go for it. But honestly, I go to the loose bins section and get colors as needed. Less expensive and I use these sparingly so they last.

These can be messy so I don't leave them accessible all the time. But, on the days when I break out the thicker paper and the chalk and oil pastels are left within reach, the results are wonderful! The kids really react to the rich thick marks of these materials and how smooth they are on the page. Much different then the crayons and colored pencils and in turn end up being used to create in a whole new way.

TAPE

Tape has been a HUGE hit at our house lately. Not all of our materials cost a lot! I let them pick out a few rolls at Staples when they run out. At only a few dollars each they are amazingly versatile. They have been used to hang artwork, make frames on the paper, make "lines", "bridges", and "walls". They are used a lot and in so many ways. Open-ended fun and if it gets stuck on the floor or wall "by mistake" it doesn't leave a mark!

SAFETY SCISSORS

We always have safety scissors at the art table. My kids are five and three and they absolutely love that they have the freedom to cut things themselves. It is beyond cute to watch them sit down and cut paper and tape and get SO much satisfaction out of it. Plus, a huge win on practicing those fine motor skills!

CUT PAPER

In a tray on the table I always leave some sort of colorful cut paper. You can find these or make them yourself. Every once in a while a trip to stock up on free paint samples is a great way to get some loose paper to play with! If you go to an Early Learning Educators Store, I'm sure you will find them there as well. A variety of small loose shapes and colors works great because they can use them in so many ways. Think building blocks for larger images or shapes.

GLUE

Of course, you can't have loose paper without glue. Another thrill in our house! The kids again, love having the glue sticks always out and available. At first when they were introduced reminders had to be made to put caps back on and not glue the table, etc., etc. But eventually enough gentle reminders and a sense of ownership has led to some really creative and responsible art making moments!

ROTATING PARTS

Stickers and Google Eyes are currently on our art table everyday! These are not always going to be around because I like to keep things fresh. Sometimes it's pipe cleaners or wooden beads. On occasion I put out homemade play dough or modeling clay along with toothpicks and popsicle sticks. It changes but the point it - keep out the basics like paper, scissors, pencils, etc. but swap out new fun loose parts just to keep them guessing. : ) And creating...

WATERCOLORS In the first image, my daughter is using watercolors. I am in the process of investing in a couple of nice sets of watercolors for my kids. Right now we are using ones that are very inexpensive and not that great in terms of color. So...it's on my list. They love to paint and although I don't have the paint out on the table everyday I do intend to work it into the rotation more often in the future.

We use a lot of other materials from time to time but these are OUR ESSENTIALS!

Hope this inspires you to freshen up your art space and stand back.

Children + Reggio-Inspired Materials + parents willing to make space to listen to the unique voices and visions as they unfold = amazing art experiences and children who are confident in expressing who they are.

We have a blast creating daily, it's just a part of our routine. Hope it becomes a part of yours!

- Jessica