I design the monthly boxes for Outside the Box Creation. Each box includes a book to read to spark kids’ imaginations and set the stage for the art project. Parents love that our boxes all contain books and I love that I get to read children’s books a lot. So, I thought I’d share some …

You may have noticed Little Free Libraries popping up in neighborhoods. Little Free Libraries are free public book exchanges, often in cute little wood cabinets in someone’s front yard. The idea is that anyone can take a book or leave books for others. The idea for these miniature libraries is said to have begun in …

What’s the difference between imagination and creativity? We often hear the words creativity and imagination thrown around interchangeably. But are they the same thing? According to experts, they are closely linked but not the same thing. creativity According to the Cambridge Dictionary, creativity is “the ability to produce or use original and unusual ideas”. It’s …

Being socially conscious is in our mission! From the very beginning of Outside the Box Creation, we’ve been painfully aware that there were so many kids in the world without parents who are able or who will purchase our art experiences for them. I think about my twelve plus years as an art docent (a.k.a. …

I often hear comments from parents like “One of my kids loves art, the other one doesn’t,”  “My kids are more into sports, not art”, or “My son just doesn’t like art.” If you’re one of those parents, read on! There are ways to encourage even the most reluctant young artists.  Broaden Your Definition of …

What is an art invitation? An art invitation is basically setting out specific art supplies in an enticing way to encourage kids to engage with them on their own.You probably already know how important art is for your kids’ development. Art invitations are a great way to encourage kids to do more art. The first …

I’m often asked: “What basic supplies should I get if I want to do art with my kids?”The most important supply you need for giving your child all of the benefits of a quality visual arts education is not something you can purchase at an art supply store

With so many scary things happening in the world, it’s no wonder that many of our kids are struggling with feelings of fear, sadness, and anxiety. Fortunately, art, like reading, is a meaning-making activity. It can help kids process some of their feelings and begin to make some sense out of them. There a number …

What IS summer slide? Have you heard of the summer slide? I’m not talking about a playground slide, but rather a slide downward that kids tend to make in learning during the summer. It is sometimes called summer brain drain, summer setback, or summer learning loss. These names all refer to the phenomena that many children begin …

why? Will you be gathering with family for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or other holidays? Why not plan an art project that you can all do together? It’s the perfect intergenerational activity. Why? Well first of all, it’s fun! And some of the best conversations happen when people are all working on a project and …

The arts are often mistakenly viewed as electives or nice-to-have additional subjects for kids. However, in the past few years, the research has become crystal clear. Art helps kids’ cognitive development and social emotional learning in a number of ways. Kids who participate in a quality visual arts education tend to perform better in all …

 Art engages children’s senses and supports their development in amazing ways that enhance cognitive, social-emotional and multi-sensory growth & learning but some kids can have extra challenges engaging in art projects. Here are some strategies to help in doing art with your neuro-divergent or non neurotypical child.