Any invitation to create yields wonderful benefits for children!  Self-expression, fine motor skills, and creative thinking are all brought to the table every time.  Art can even be therapeutic! But there’s something special that happens when you work on a bigger scale.  With big art projects, larger motor movements are often encouraged, strengthening both the small muscles in the hand, used in most art projects, but also inviting the larger muscle groups in the arms, and sometimes even the whole body!  With a larger project and bigger movements, kids who typically steer clear of the art table are often more easily enticed.  Big art projects also add a social and linguistic element as kids often work together to fill up such a big canvas.  And with such big projects and big movements, outdoors is often an ideal studio — perfect for this time of year! [Read more…]