First class? What to expect at a beachy art play session

Gabrielle Wood
Apr 26, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Mar 16

Do you ever feel nervous before trying something new?

Of course you do! This is so normal and something we need to normalise for our kids.

Doing something for the first time can be scary to them but there are ways to help.

If you have a child who's a bit of a worrier (like I do!), most likely you do things already to prepare them before going somewhere new.

Questions First!

One of the things I do is to answer any questions they have. This allows them time to think of all the worst possible outcomes and then feel prepared before they go, with their minds at ease. I then like to show the photos or videos of the activity to help with their mental preparation.

Here are a list of questions I have been asked before which your child might ask too. You can use these as a prompt/guide for your convo with your child. You know them best and know how best to ease their minds. These apply to beachy art play classes, incursions and classic art play parties.

What will we be doing?

You will create a painting of your own & then you will be drawing and painting on a big canvas like real artists use. This will be shared with your friends, playing with paints, tools like scrapers, rollers, big brushes, stampers, even your hands and feet if you want to.

Art play is a sensory experience. You will be using your physical body: hands, feet, arms, knees etc. You don't have to use anything except hands, but the option is there if you feel comfortable. Hands will be squeezing paint and glue; and tipping out glitter! Fingers will be doing their pincer grip thing to grab beads and sequins. Feet will be standing in paint to move it around a canvas, because it's so much fun!

Will anyone help me?

Yes, there will always be someone to help. You can ask Gabbie for help.
What if I don't like painting?

Then there will be some other things to play with that aren't to do with paint. Sometimes drawing, stickers, fairy wands or rock colouring.

What if I get paint on myself?

That's ok and Gabbie thinks it's actually the best part! You will be wearing old clothes & an art t- shirt and there are wipes and water to wash off any paint on you.
What if I don't know what to paint? Here I would say two things:
First "you can start by mixing paint in the jars and see if you get an idea from there."
" Second "Choose a colour and paint a background. Then you might get an idea from there".
What will happen at the end? At the end you will be asked to help clean up and if you've got paint on you, you will be asked to wash it off and get dry with a towel.
Can I take my picture home? Yes, leave it to dry and then at the end you can take it home.

There is ONE question that I get asked during a session that you might want to address.

How do I clean my brush when I want to change colours? We don't provide water on the tables because more often than not, it spills and ruins art work! So here's what you can say:"You wipe it on the table and give the table a nice new coat of paint.

Most importantly sessions are child led. Which means that the child is in control of what they want to do & what they don't want to do. They make all the choices: choice of paint colour, how many beads to add, whether to do what their friend is doing, or to only mix colours and never actually paint on the paper (this happens so often 😂). In other words it is about kids taking control of their art experience and having fun with art stuff, using their imaginations and playing.