It is such a joy to be my children’s first teacher. I love being able to watch them experience a new material for the first time. Learning how to tear paper seems like such a simple task, but to a child it is a completely foreign concept that needs plenty of exposure and practice. Tearing paper is a wonderful fine motor skill followed by the creating collages with glue. Because these two parts focus on different skills they should occur in isolation. Both skills can then be combined to create Torn Paper Collages.
WHAT YOU NEED TO CREATE TORN PAPER COLLAGES
colored construction paper
glue
TIME TO MAKE TORN PAPER COLLAGES!
Begin by having your child pick a piece of construction paper. With another piece of paper demonstrate how to tear the paper into two pieces. At two my girls found tearing paper a challenging task. I gave them a few opportunities to try and then helped them achieve success by tearing the paper slightly. This helped them begin to feel the ripping motion and be successful.
Continue to rip pieces and form a pile. Charlotte was so happy when she learned how to tear her own piece!
Now, the next step is completely optional, but added by my mischievous two year olds. Take all the piled up pieces of paper and frantically move your arms in all directions so the papers go EVERYWHERE. When your mom finally collects all the papers attempt to do it again.
This is the second part of the project. At this point your child might need a break for some free play. Follow her lead and come back to the project when ready to focus again.
Have your child choose a piece of construction paper he will use for the collage project. Provide glue and a small pile of the torn paper pieces. I purchase a large gallon of white glue and then put small amount in Wilton Decorating Squeeze Bottles. Demonstrate how to squeeze a small amount of glue on the paper and then stick another piece of paper on top.
Like with all children’s art projects it is important to focus on the process of the work rather than the product (how it looks in the end). It is entirely possible that your child might spend the majority of her time focusing on squeezing the glue on to the paper.
Your child may spend the time gluing multiple pieces of paper only to pull them all up in the end. All of these actions are important to the learning process. Give your child the freedom to explore without the stress of art needing to be something. When speaking to your child focus on his actions. “Look at how you added a yellow piece on top of the purple.” “I noticed you made a long curvy line with the glue and then some dots at top.”
If your child starts to speak about her work take this opportunity to add to this meaningful play by writing down the words. When creating a dictation sit down next to your child and write the words exactly as she speaks them. Here is Luca’s artwork and corresponding story. Dictations are the an important pre-reading and writing skill.
My girls loved this experience so much that they requested the same art project the next day. We displayed their work at child level and they proudly show off their work to visitors.
