Children's Easel in the Art Room

A children's easel is the perfect answer to the everChildren's Easels as opposed to art tables in the
growing class size and really the best surface too forclassroom. Altogether they agree that the child
your students to learn on. Regardless of the agegetting the most out of their class and helping them
group, students that work on a children's easel areto find their potential as artists is the most important
more likely to become engaged and passionate aboutthing. One element of concern regarding a Children's
their work. The Children's Easel creates a largerEasel vs. a large class art table is organization and
atmosphere of learning and focused creativity. Byclass room structure. Some educators might think a
standing up a child's work space is naturally biggerclass full of easels could be too chaotic and that the
and in a classroom setting their spaces may evendisorganization would cause kids to loose focus.
overlap which can encourage them to see oneHowever, the contrary is true. Children's Easels put
anothers art work, and to inspire each other.out in an organized way, for example, putting them
A Children's Easel is not new concept, they haveall in a circle, allows the teacher to walk all the way
been becoming ever more popular over the past 20around the class instructing and encouraging one
or so years. These Children's Easels and Creationstudent at a time. It also allows for the students to
Stations originated with the hope that childrentake a look around at their classmates' work.
drawing and coloring on their Children's Easels wouldWhether they are focused on a still life or not, this is
become more involved in the paintings and projectsa highly effective class structure for children's easels.
they were creating. The main reason being thatThere are many other ways to set up your
creating art from a standing position allows yourclassroom, rows, squares or even clusters. Not all
whole body to be involved in the process. ForChildren's Easels are one sided. Some are double
children with a lot of energy a children's easel issided, some are even four sided making room for
perfect. Not only does it allow them to paint moreeven more class room set up possibilities.
wildly, but the fact that their painting is right in frontAnother misconception about Children's Easels is that
of their face helps them become less distracted.cleaning up after the class, folding up the easels and
Contrast this to the level of distraction that can beputting them away is too much work. If you are
found on an art table where a child is more prone tousing Children's Easels that require being folded up
starring at and joking with their buddies next to themand stored away everyday, try assigning the
and across from them. Another reason behindstudents their own children's easel for the year, giving
introducing the Children's Easel is that a child can morethem some responsibility for it in much the same
easily step away from and return to a work inway as there desks in the classroom, or like their
progress. An art teacher sensing that a child is stuck,textbook. Have an inspection in the beginning and at
can instruct them to move on to somethingthe end of the year and set up some penalties for
completely different, intending for the child to returnmistreated easels.
to their work at a later date. They will be able toWhen choosing your Children's Easel, make sure you
step out of their potentially frustrating or stalledlook into all the different types. They are not all the
creative process, focusing their minds on somethingsame. Some fold up small and are very portable,
else, all the while looking at their art work from asome have wheels and are more mobile, and many
different context, angle and distance. This process ofChildren's Easels can even accommodate several kids
stepping back from your work or even leaving itat once, including: Double Sided, Four Sided, and even
completely for a time causes artists to take theirSix Station Children's Easels. I am sure you will find
creativity and talent a step further.the perfect one to suit your needs.
Art educators have differing opinions regarding