Wednesday, July 6, 2011

String Ideas for Little Kids

My experience with kids is that they have trouble with the string part of the Zentangle. I print out very simple shapes from coloring books - like a house or a big flower or a kite with partitions - and let the kids tangle in the spaces, instead of coloring them. I always make the shapes larger than traditional tiles but, depending on the ages, smaller than a regular coloring book page.

With my 4 yr old grandson, I wrote out his name in large bubble letters, and he was happy for an hour. Every time he finished tangling inside his name - it was, "Nana, my name again, please!" (I insisted on that last word!)

Of course, I don't start with Rick's Paradox with 4 yr olds, but they can do lots of other designs. And just like us older tanglers, they become progressively better and proud of their creations.

Lura Mathews, CZT4,  Pen + Paper = Happiness


3 comments:

Jackie said...

Sandy,
Love this site. I am gong to do some tangling with a group of Vacation Bible School kids. Can't wait to share the joy of Zentangle.
Jackie (Flood Brook School)

Carolyn said...

My 13 year old granddaughter and I do monthly art clubs for HopeKids (kids with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses). We plan to introduce zentangling this fall and I am very glad for this website.
Thanks!
Carolyn Mitchell

Sandy Steen Bartholomew said...

I'm sure we'd all love to see what the kids produce!