If you have volunteered to teach painting to little kids for the first time, you might not know exactly how to go about it. You may love art, but you could have a room full of youngsters with varying interests in it. You want it to be a fun, positive experience, and if they learn something that will be a plus. Here are some simple tips to make the summer childrens art classes Austin programs offer a great time for all.

You have probably learned that these kinds of classes have limited budgets. When you find out your class size, you can decide whether or not you can afford to purchase cheap smocks for everyone. If not, it's a good idea to send a note in advance, asking parents to dress their children in clothes that washable paint and supplies won't ruin. The focus should be on the paint projects, not the mess they make.

You will need to set up a work station that is big enough to accommodate the number of students you have. Whether you are using tables or easels, they should be near enough to a sink to make cleanup quick and easy. Computers, furniture, and rugs need to be far enough away to keep them from paint splatters. Explain the concept of the workspace to your little students. If you don't, they may have painting materials everywhere.

If your painting class if full of young children, the supplies you choose must be age appropriate. Little kids put things in their mouths, and you don't want anyone getting sick by ingesting dangerous materials. Avoid oil paint, and choose water base paint instead. Dry gouache, watercolors, and kid's acrylics work well.

You don't have to purchase expensive paint brushes for little kids or expect their parents to spend a lot of money on supplies at the local arts and crafts store. There are cheap brushes that work well. You can also put out sponges, wooden sticks, rags, string, rollers, bubble wrap, or anything else that paint will stick to.

Cleaning up is a normal part of any art project, and you shouldn't feel you have to clean up behind your students. They may be small, but they can learn how to wash out materials and put them away. If you make it fun, they will enjoy this part of the class as much as anything else.

Your job in the classroom is not to be an art critic or to get caught up in how well someone can draw. Encouragement and positive suggestions will go a long way. You can choose the subject matter yourself or let your kids' imaginations take over. There should be plenty of wall space to display finished work.

You don't have to be a master of technique or color to teach one of these classes. Your goal should be to make the experience fun and rewarding. Most little kids are creative, and if you can tap into that part of their minds, you could open up a world of new ideas for them.