Little Learners + Art Makes Me Smart: Creating Alongside Older Siblings (and on Their Own!)

One of the questions we hear from parents is:

“Can I use Art Makes Me Smart with my younger children?”

And especially…

“Can they do any of it independently while I’m working with an older sibling?”

The answer to both is yes, with a little flexibility. 

In fact, one of our favorite things about an art-first approach is that everyone around the table doesn’t have to be doing the exact same thing at the exact same level.

Your older child might be carefully following the watercolor tutorial while your five-year-old chooses completely different colors and paints something that only slightly resembles the example.

That’s okay.

Actually, that’s more than okay. That freedom to experiment is part of how younger children develop confidence as creators. Our resources are intentionally flexible, and even something as simple as watercolor gives younger children opportunities to explore color, blending, shapes, fine-motor skills, focus, and creative experimentation.

The goal isn’t for your youngest child’s project to look like everyone else’s.

The goal is to help them discover:

“Oh! Creating is something we do.”

And when that becomes part of your family rhythm, something pretty wonderful can happen.

Growing Into Art-First Learning

Many of our own children have been using Art Makes Me Smart since they were just four or five years old, often creating right alongside their older siblings.

In the beginning, they simply joined in.

They chose their own colors, experimented with paint, and created their own versions of whatever everyone else was working on. Sometimes they followed the tutorial. Sometimes they went completely off-script.

And that was okay.

Over the years, our team of homeschooling moms have had the chance to watch those little learners grow right alongside Art Makes Me Smart.

They’ve become more comfortable with the materials. They’ve learned what happens when colors mix, how different brushstrokes work, how to trace, cut, glue, draw, and experiment when something doesn’t turn out quite the way they expected.

But even more importantly, they’ve begun to see themselves as capable creators.

Art has become familiar—something they know how to do and naturally reach for, rather than something that always needs to be planned and led by a parent.

As they’ve grown, they’ve also become more independent. A child who once needed help getting started may eventually grab the art supplies and create while Mom is working with an older sibling. Sometimes they choose a project from the membership, and other times their own creative ideas take over.

And the learning can grow right along with them.

Families can add in more of the poetry, books, videos, recipes, STEM activities, picture studies, history, science, and other connections inside the membership as their children are ready.

But they don’t have to start there.

When children are little, sometimes just creating is enough.

Let them join in where they are. Let them paint, experiment, wonder, and create.

The skills—and the deeper learning—can grow right alongside that creative rhythm. 

A Few Tips for Using Art Makes Me Smart With Younger Children

If you have a little learner who wants to join in, you do not need to turn every project into a separate preschool lesson.

Keep it simple.

Let them choose their materials. They don’t always need to use exactly what’s shown in the tutorial. Crayons, watercolor pencils, pastels, markers, or a simple watercolor palette can all work beautifully.

Give them a little ownership. Let them choose their colors, pick between two projects, or decide how they want to approach part of their artwork.

Simplify the frustrating parts. This one is HUGE. Trace the drawing for them. Print a template on cardstock or watercolor paper and let them paint directly on it. Do some of the cutting ahead of time. There’s nothing wrong with removing a roadblock so they can get right to creating. Our own unit studies include printable outlines and tracing guidance for exactly this kind of flexibility.

Don’t worry about following the tutorial perfectly. The example is there to guide them, not limit them.

Encourage experimenting. What happens if they add more water? Mix those two colors? Try a pastel instead of watercolor? Let them find out.

Leave room for their ideas. If they want to add something, leave something out, or take the project in a completely different direction, that’s okay.

Most importantly, remember that there isn’t one “right” way to do art.

Wobbly brushstrokes, unexpected colors, and projects that look nothing like the example are still meaningful creative experiences. That freedom to observe and experiment is something we intentionally encourage throughout Art Makes Me Smart.

Where Should Little Learners Start Inside Art Makes Me Smart?

If you’re already an AMMS member, opening the membership and seeing ALL the possibilities can be exciting…and also a little overwhelming.

Please don’t feel like you need to explore everything at once.

Choose one or two areas and start there.

Start With a Simple Watercolor Project

Watercolor is one of our favorite places to begin because it can grow right alongside your child.

An older child may work on specific techniques and details, while a younger child can simply enjoy mixing colors and playing with shapes.

Let them watch the tutorial with their siblings and participate at whatever level feels right.

Try the “Younger Kids” Math + Art Projects

The Younger Kids projects inside The Math & Art Connection are another natural starting place.

They give younger children a chance to explore mathematical ideas through something tangible and creative rather than expecting them to approach the concept exactly like an older sibling.

Keep Nature Studies Low-Pressure

Nature journaling can be wonderfully simple with little learners.

Grab a sketchbook and head outside.

Ask them to find one thing they notice.

A leaf. A flower. A rock. A bug. A cloud. A bird.

Then let them draw it.

It doesn’t need to be detailed or “accurate.” You’re simply helping them slow down, observe, and make a visual record of something that caught their attention.

That’s learning.

And honestly, fall is such a beautiful time to begin this rhythm together.

Choose a Unit Study Based on Something They Already Love

Does your child love butterflies? Flowers? Apples? Birds?

Start there!

And here’s something important to remember about our Unit Studies:

You absolutely do not have to complete the entire unit.

Sometimes we literally just do the art project.

Other times, we might grab one of the suggested books or turn on a video because we have a little more time and everyone is interested.

And on those magical days when everyone is happily engaged and we want to keep going? We might add a poem, STEM activity, recipe, fun fact, or picture study.

The unit studies are designed to work flexibly with your family’s rhythm rather than requiring you to complete every piece.

Try Something Besides Watercolor

Sometimes changing the materials is all it takes to make a familiar project feel exciting again.

Bring out the pastels. Use crayons. Try gouache. Hand them watercolor pencils.

Your little learner doesn’t have to use the same materials as an older sibling to participate in the same project.

Keep Artist Studies Open-Ended

A “Master Copy” does not have to mean your six-year-old perfectly reproduces a famous painting.

Let them look.

What colors do they notice? What shapes? What lines?

How does the painting make them feel?

Then invite them to create something inspired by it.

My children often choose their own materials for these projects—pastels, watercolor, gouache, crayons…whatever sounds fun that day.

The point is observation and discovery, not perfect imitation. Picture studies themselves invite children to slow down, notice details, ask questions, and make their own connections with what they see.

Don’t Overlook Creative Play

Coloring, cutting, gluing, designing outfits, acting out stories…

It all counts.

Our Paper Dolls & Nursery Rhymes collection is especially fun for younger children. My girls LOVE coloring the dolls and outfits, and some of the historical-figure-inspired clothing gives you a natural way to weave in educational connections too.

Fine-motor practice, storytelling, imagination, creativity, and history can all happen without your child ever feeling like you sat them down for another “lesson.”

Explore Music Through Art

Music Studies are another fun option because they can be incredibly open-ended.

Put on the music.

Then give your child paper and art supplies and ask:

“What does this music make you want to create?”

That’s it.

They might paint the way the music feels. Draw what they imagine happening. Choose colors that remind them of the song.

Our Composer Studies and Music Connection resources give you more prompts and ideas when you want them, but with a little learner, listening and creating can be plenty.

Want Them to Create More Independently? Try an Art Basket.

If your goal is eventually being able to say, “Go choose an art project while I help your brother with math,” there’s one very practical thing we’d recommend:

Create an Art Basket.

Keep a small collection of supplies your child can safely use independently somewhere accessible.

Watercolors. Brushes. Crayons. Markers. Pencils. Child-safe scissors. Glue. Paper.

Nothing fancy.

The magic is simply that they can reach it.

When art supplies are tucked away in six different cabinets and Mom has to gather everything, creativity depends on Mom being available.

When the supplies are sitting right there?

Your child can begin to take ownership.

At first, you may still need to open the AMMS lesson, print the page, or help them get started.

But little by little, they learn the rhythm.

Get the basket.

Grab the paper.

Choose the colors.

Create.

Clean up.

And eventually you may start hearing the same thing we hear:

“Mom, can I go paint?”

You Don’t Have to Do It All

If you have younger children, please don’t read this list and think:

Okay! Watercolor Monday, Math + Art Tuesday, Nature Study Wednesday, Unit Study Thursday…

No. 

Choose one thing.

Try a watercolor project this week.

Maybe do one Younger Kids Math + Art lesson next week.

Throw a sketchbook in your bag before your next nature walk.

Over time, you’ll discover which parts of Art Makes Me Smart your children naturally gravitate toward.

Follow that curiosity.

Some days you may dive into the poetry, videos, podcasts, books, recipes, STEM activities, and all the other resources available inside the membership.

And some days?

You’ll simply create together.

Both are valuable.

Our hope with Art Makes Me Smart has never been that families check every box or complete every resource.

We want to help you build a creative family rhythm where art becomes a natural part of learning and life.

A rhythm where younger siblings can pull up a chair next to the big kids.

Where a child can grab a paintbrush while Mom finishes math with someone else.

Where creating isn’t something that only happens when you have the perfect project, the perfect supplies, and an entire afternoon available.

It’s simply something your family does. And it can look different in every home.

Connection, not perfection, is the goal.